PHOENIX (AP) The brain’s ability to think and reason can be limited by two things: genetics and exposure to noise.
The two factors are related but don’t always cause the same kind of dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia.
In fact, many studies have shown that genes, or genes, can improve cognitive functioning, especially in patients who have schizophrenia.
But the effect of noise exposure on brain function is unclear.
And a new study from researchers at the University of Washington and the University at Albany suggests that genetics may be a factor.
Their research was published online this week in the journal Nature Neuroscience.
The study involved 10 patients with the disorder who had been diagnosed at least five times.
Each was asked to rate their mental health and function in response to auditory stimuli.
The results showed that genetics accounted for the largest portion of the variance in brain functioning.
The patients who were more closely related to the patients with epilepsy had a 50 percent increased risk of developing schizophrenia compared with the patients without epilepsy.
The researchers suspect that the genetic variation may reflect differences in how schizophrenia is transmitted to the brain.
They suggest that if the genes for schizophrenia are affected in utero or by a traumatic event, it may be due to alterations in the way the brain develops and responds to noise exposure.
They say it’s also possible that noise exposure is a mechanism that increases the risk of schizophrenia and the development of other psychiatric disorders such as autism spectrum disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Researchers say the study also provides insight into how genetic predisposition affects how people develop schizophrenia.
The genetic findings suggest that the neural circuits involved in mental processes may be altered, leading to genetic susceptibility to schizophrenia, the researchers said.
In other words, the brain may not just be wired differently, but may also be wired more specifically for the function of certain genes, said study lead author Dr. Roberta V. Singh, a developmental neuroscientist and senior researcher in UW’s Institute for Neurobiology and Behavior.
In schizophrenia, these genes are known to be involved in the development and maintenance of the amygdala and other brain regions.
These genes have been implicated in learning and memory, learning and attention, and executive function.
“Our study highlights the importance of studying how noise exposure may be influenced by genetic factors,” Singh said.
The findings also help explain why the development, or normalization, of auditory-cortical circuits can be altered in people with schizophrenia, she said.
“It’s important to understand that these circuits are involved in a wide range of mental processes.
They may be important for learning, regulating sleep, regulating emotions, regulating cognition, and more.”
The findings could lead to new treatments and therapies, she added.
For example, it could help to understand how auditory-imaging studies can help diagnose and treat schizophrenia.
“This is the first study to show that noise might be a target of treatment for this disease,” said Dr. Stephen B. Lasky, a neurologist and professor of neurosurgery at the Mayo Clinic.
The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health.
For more health and science news, visit AP Health.
The Associated Press does not necessarily endorse the products or services advertised.