Synopsis
A Singapore study reveals a link between immune system changes and schizophrenia, highlighting potential treatment resistance. Findings suggest early identification of resistant patients could lead to more effective intervention strategies.Key Takeaways
- Immune system changes tied to schizophrenia.
- Approximately 24 million affected worldwide.
- One-third of patients may resist treatment.
- Early identification of resistance can enhance outcomes.
- Clozapine is key for treatment-resistant cases.
New Delhi, Jan 17 (NationPress) A group of researchers from Singapore has discovered that alterations in the immune system are associated with schizophrenia and possible resistance to therapeutic interventions.
The underlying causes of schizophrenia—a psychotic condition that impacts approximately 24 million people globally, including 1 in 116 residents in Singapore—remain largely elusive.
This research, published in the journal Brain, Behaviour and Immunity, contributes to an expanding collection of studies indicating that dysregulation of the immune system may play a role in the emergence of this mental health disorder.
Importantly, not every patient diagnosed with schizophrenia responds to standard antipsychotic medications. Roughly one-third of individuals worldwide diagnosed with schizophrenia exhibit treatment resistance.
This signifies that these patients do not experience remission from symptoms like hallucinations and delusions, even with treatment.
By examining variations in immune cell populations, the team from Singapore's National Healthcare Group (NHG) and the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR) sought to forecast treatment resistance, facilitating the initiation of the most suitable treatment at an earlier stage.
“Our objective was to pinpoint immune cell alterations that could potentially help predict treatment resistance, enabling earlier and more focused interventions, such as starting clozapine treatment sooner for improved clinical results,” stated Dr. Li Yanhui, the lead author and NHG Psychiatry Resident. Clozapine is the only psychiatric medication currently approved for treatment-resistant schizophrenia.
For this study, the researchers analyzed blood samples from 196 healthy individuals and those with schizophrenia exhibiting varying levels of treatment resistance.
They identified and compared 66 immune cell populations in the blood samples of 147 individuals with schizophrenia and 49 healthy participants to investigate the immune cell populations linked to the disorder and treatment resistance.
The findings revealed notable disparities in specific immune cell populations between healthy participants and individuals with schizophrenia.
Furthermore, these variations in immune cell populations correspond to the likelihood of a patient with schizophrenia being resistant to treatment.
The results bring hope for the early detection of patients who may be resistant to treatment, allowing clinicians to choose more effective therapeutic strategies for better outcomes.
