New study details how excess protein may trigger schizophrenia



While awareness of schizophrenia continues to progress, there is still much scientific detail that remains unknown regarding the origins of the disease.

While awareness of schizophrenia continues to progress, there is still much scientific detail that remains unknown regarding the origins of the disease. Treatments for schizophrenia such as Geodon are helping those diagnosed with the illness better manage their symptoms, but if researchers can eventually determine how the condition develops in the first place, they might be able to halt schizophrenic behaviors. One recent study focused on how an abundance in protein during the initial stages of brain development may provide an answer to unlocking the mystery of schizophrenia.

Too much protein may trigger schizophrenic symptoms
Researchers from Rutgers University have conducted an analysis of created by the NOS1AP gene in the brain may produce abnormalities and damage to nerve cells, eventually resulting in schizophrenia. Essentially, the extensive amounts of dendrites produced by the NOS1AP gene is producing symptoms of the mental illness.

Dendrites are extensions of a nerve cell that help maintain communication between other cells and a key component to the nervous system. When too much of these dendrites are produced, brain cells then fail to branch out within the neocortex, a region in the brain that's responsible for a variety of duties, such as sensory perception, language development and conscious thought.

The researchers then tested a control group of rats in which NOS1AP chemical protein production was found to be normal. These test subjects experienced proper development of cellular connections, allowing the brain cells to expand within the neocortex and exhibit more efficient communication. However, rats who were found to have overwhelming amounts of dendrites experienced difficulties and reduced rates of brain development.

Dr. Bonnie Firestein, a professor at Rutgers and lead contributor in the study, expressed how the lack of brain cell communication caused by the excess protein could eventually progress into a form of schizophrenic therapy if further studies are approved.

"When the brain develops, it sets up a system of the right type of connectivity to make sure that communication can occur," Fierstein said in a statement. "What we saw here was that the nerve cells didn't move to the correct locations and didn't have dendrites that branch out to make the connections that were needed. The next step would be to let the disease develop in the laboratory and try to treat the over expression of the protein with an anti-psychotic therapy to see if it works."

Tips for managing symptoms of schizophrenia
There are a wide variety of traits associated with schizophrenia, but sometimes using simple strategies to implement into your life is all it takes to help manage these symptoms. In addition to taking your prescribed medication, finding sufficient sources of support is an essential element of handling the illness. Whether this is through private counseling or attending group therapy sessions, having outlets with people who know or are at least familiar with what you're going through may give you the strength to carry on.

Helpguide.org reports that sometimes managing your schizophrenia has more to do with your . This means that buying into the myths that this illness is untreatable will only encourage your symptoms to worsen. Having someone with you to provide support can help boost the self-confidence needed to handle your condition.  

Medication is not the overall cure for schizophrenia, but it's an excellent way to help gain control over various symptoms. Whenever your prescription runs out and you need to buy Geodon, remember that you can always go to a Canadian online pharmacy to refill your order.