Article
Behavioral Sciences
Daniel J. Foster, Zoey K. Bryant, P. Jeffrey Conn
Summary: Targeting specific muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes may provide more comprehensive symptomatic relief for schizophrenia patients. Studies show that M1, M4, and M5 receptor subtypes modulate brain circuits and physiology underlying positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tertia D. Purves-Tyson, Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer, Juliet Richetto, Debora A. Rothmond, Marie A. Labouesse, Marcello Polesel, Kate Robinson, Cynthia Shannon Weickert, Urs Meyer
Summary: The research indicates that immune-related changes in the dopaminergic areas of the midbrain of schizophrenia patients are associated with a subgroup showing high immune status. The study also suggests that maternal immune activation (MIA) may be one of the contributing factors underlying persistent neuroimmune changes in the midbrain of people with schizophrenia.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Henry S. Lange, Joshua D. Vardigan, Christopher E. Cannon, Vanita Puri, Darrell A. Henze, Jason M. Uslaner
Summary: Alzheimer's disease is a profoundly debilitating neurodegenerative disorder, and Compound 24 has shown potential therapeutic effects in non-human primates, reducing behavioral disturbances and enhancing cognitive function.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rebecca M. Woods, Jarred M. Lorusso, Isabella Harris, Hager M. Kowash, Christopher Murgatroyd, Joanna C. Neill, Jocelyn D. Glazier, Michael Harte, Reinmar Hager
Summary: Exposure to maternal immune activation (MIA) in utero increases the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders. The study investigates the relationship between MIA and cognitive deficits by focusing on Reelin signalling in the brain. The findings suggest that dysregulation of Reelin signalling due to MIA contributes to cognitive deficits through altered NMDA receptor function.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Aodan Laighneach, Lieve Desbonnet, John P. Kelly, Gary Donohoe, Derek W. Morris
Summary: The study combined multiple gene expression studies to investigate genes, pathways, and cell types dysregulated in MIA mouse models, finding consistent dysregulation of genes linked to SCZ and ASD. The cellular location of molecular mechanisms between the MIA model and neurodevelopmental disease was identified, improving understanding of prenatal infection as an environmental stressor.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
F. Markus Leweke, Cathrin Rohleder, Christoph W. Gerth, Martin Hellmich, Ralf Pukrop, Dagmar Koethe
Summary: CBD and AMI show comparable efficacy in improving neurocognitive functioning in young and acutely ill schizophrenia patients, with CBD also enhancing sustained attention and visuomotor coordination.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Michele Santoni, Claudia Sagheddu, Valeria Serra, Rafaela Mostallino, Maria Paola Castelli, Francesco Pisano, Maria Scherma, Paola Fadda, Anna Lisa Muntoni, Erica Zamberletti, Tiziana Rubino, Miriam Melis, Marco Pistis
Summary: Prenatal infections, when combined with other postnatal insults, can increase the risk of developing psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia in the offspring. In a rat model, maternal immune activation (MIA) was found to affect the endocannabinoid system and endocannabinoid-mediated modulation of dopamine functions. MIA offspring showed altered locomotor activity, abnormal response to THC, and dysregulation of neuroinflammatory markers and synaptic plasticity, which contribute to psychotic-like symptoms in adulthood.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Wei Sun, Yazi Mei, Xiaoliang Li, Yang Yang, Lei An
Summary: Prenatal exposure to maternal infection may impact learning and memory through altering proBDNF expression, resulting in contextual memory deficits.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Allison Anderson, Thiago C. Genaro-Mattos, Luke B. Allen, Katalin Koczok, Zeljka Korade, Karoly Mirnics
Summary: The study found that maternal immune activation and genetic inhibition of interneurons have long-term consequences on critical homeostatic mechanisms of the brain, including immune function, sterol levels, and energy metabolism.
Article
Psychiatry
Heiner Stuke
Summary: Recent clinical studies have found that muscarinic acetylcholine receptor agonists effectively alleviate schizophrenia symptoms, indicating the potential establishment of procholinergic antipsychotics as a second class of drugs alongside the usual antidopaminergic antipsychotics. Basic science studies also suggest that muscarinic acetylcholine receptor hypofunction may play a role in a subgroup of schizophrenia, offering an opportunity for personalized treatment if markers predictive of response to procholinergic vs. antidopaminergic interventions can be identified. Possible in vivo markers of muscarinic deficit and response to procholinergic therapeutics such as non-response to antidopaminergic antipsychotics, specific symptom patterns, presence of antimuscarinic antibodies, ERP markers, and radiotracers are presented. Open questions and further research steps are also discussed.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Felisa Herrero, Flavia S. Mueller, Joel Gruchot, Patrick Kuery, Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer, Urs Meyer
Summary: This study suggests that maternal immune activation (MIA), an environmental risk factor, can lead to altered expression of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), which may be associated with the development of psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Stephanie Raymann, Sina M. Schalbetter, Ron Schaer, Alexandra C. Bernhardt, Flavia S. Mueller, Urs Meyer, Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
Summary: Prenatal immune activation can have transgenerational effects on brain and behavior, affecting cognitive functions and gene expression patterns across multiple generations. These effects are found to be transmitted through both maternal and paternal lineages and are accompanied by changes in maternal care behavior.
Article
Neurosciences
Lucinda J. Speers, Robert Schmidt, David K. Bilkey
Summary: This study found that a schizophrenia risk factor may disrupt the phase-based encoding of location-reward relationships in the lateral septum of rats, potentially causing reward representations to become blurred across space.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mihoko Kato, Irina Kolotuev, Alexandre Cunha, Shahla Gharib, Paul W. Sternberg
Summary: This study reveals the function of muscarinic receptor GAR-3 in epithelial cell migration in C. elegans, including receiving signals from cholinergic neurons, affecting migratory path, and determining migration direction. The experimental results suggest that the regulation of GAR-3 receptor in LC is accomplished by specific downstream signaling pathways, and there is a clear correlation between GAR-3 receptor activation level and LC migration direction.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Francesca McEwan, Jocelyn D. Glazier, Reinmar Hager
Summary: The adult brain development is a complex process that involves neurogenesis and neuronal migration. Neurogenesis defects have been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism and schizophrenia. Maternal infection during pregnancy is a critical risk factor for these disorders. Animal models show that maternal immune activation causes changes in embryonic brain development, including neurogenesis and cortical lamination. These changes are likely due to altered epigenome and mitochondrial dysfunction. Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets for neurodevelopmental disorders.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Peng Zhang, Yinghua Yu, Yanfang Qin, Yuan Zhou, Renxian Tang, Qingling Wang, Xiangyang Li, Hongqin Wang, Katrina Weston-Green, Xu-Feng Huang, Kuiyang Zheng
JOURNAL OF NUTRITIONAL BIOCHEMISTRY
(2019)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Yunan Gao, Elaine E. Irvine, Ioanna Eleftheriadou, Carlos Jimenez Naranjo, Francesca Hearn-Yeates, Leontien Bosch, Justyna A. Glegola, Leah Murdoch, Aleksandra Czerniak, Ilaria Meloni, Alessandra Renieri, Maria Kinali, Nicholas D. Mazarakis
Article
Clinical Neurology
Samuel J. Millard, Katrina Weston-Green, Kelly A. Newell
PROGRESS IN NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2020)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Vinicius A. do Rosario, Courtney Chang, Jaclyn Spencer, Thilani Alahakone, Steven Roodenrys, Monique Francois, Katrina Weston-Green, Nadine Holzel, David S. Nichols, Katherine Kent, David Williams, Ian M. R. Wright, Karen Charlton
Summary: Anthocyanins from fruits may help attenuate the potential negative effects of a high fat high energy meal on vascular and microvascular function, as well as inflammatory biomarkers in overweight older adults. Further research is needed to better understand the clinical implications of postprandial cardiovascular disease biomarkers.
CLINICAL NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Vinicius A. do Rosario, Zoe Fitzgerald, Samantha Broyd, Amelia Paterson, Steven Roodenrys, Susan Thomas, Vida Bliokas, Jan Potter, Karen Walton, Katrina Weston-Green, Maziar Youse, David Williams, Ian M. R. Wright, Karen Charlton
Summary: This study found that daily consumption of high dose fruit-based anthocyanins reduced TNF-alpha concentrations in older adults with MCI, but did not alter other inflammatory biomarkers, microvascular function, or blood pressure parameters. Further research with a larger sample size and longer follow-up is needed to determine the impact on CVD risk and cognitive decline progression.
NUTRITION METABOLISM AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Ilijana Babic, Dominic Sellers, Paul L. Else, Jessica Nealon, Ashleigh L. Osborne, Nagesh Pai, Katrina Weston-Green
Summary: Liraglutide co-treatment prevented the time-dependent increase in feeding efficiency caused by olanzapine, which plateaued by six weeks. Chronic treatment had no effect on central and peripheral markers, despite the presence of weight gain.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Samuel J. Millard, Jeremy S. Lum, Francesca Fernandez, Katrina Weston-Green, Kelly A. Newell
Summary: The study found that female offspring of the WKY strain displayed deficits in glutamatergic markers related to depressive and anxiety-like behaviors, while FLX-exposed SD offspring showed increased anxiety and depressive behaviors. However, perinatal FLX exposure did not influence the behavior of female WKY offspring in these tests.
PROGRESS IN NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Zhizhen Wang, Peng Zheng, Xi Chen, Yuanyi Xie, Katrina Weston-Green, Nadia Solowij, Yee Lian Chew, Xu-Feng Huang
Summary: CBD treatment can extend lifespan and rescue age-associated physiological declines in C. elegans by promoting autophagy and improving neuronal health. These findings highlight the potential anti-aging benefits of CBD in both in vitro and in vivo models.
Review
Psychiatry
Katrina Weston-Green
Summary: Schizophrenia is a complex disorder with varied symptoms, and there is a need for improved treatment options. By understanding the basic science and pharmacological mechanisms of new drugs, it is possible to target specific sub-populations of patients for more effective treatment. This approach to schizophrenia treatment may be more achievable and beneficial than treating it as a homogeneous disorder.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Gabriela Visini, Samara Brown, Katrina Weston-Green, Cynthia Shannon Weickert, Rose Chesworth, Tim Karl
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effect of CBD given during adolescence on the development of schizophrenia-relevant phenotypes and sensitivity to THC. The results showed that CBD increased locomotion and had anxiolytic effects, while also enhancing social behavior in response to THC. However, CBD did not alleviate schizophrenia-relevant phenotypes in mutant mice and increased vulnerability to THC-induced behaviors.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jessica G. Bartschi, Lisa-Marie Greenwood, Amy Montgomery, Lon Dortants, Katrina Weston-Green, Xu-Feng Huang, Nagesh Pai, Jan Potter, Mark M. Schira, Rodney Croft, Nadia Solowij
Summary: This trial aims to investigate the effects of CBD on neuroanatomical and psychological outcomes in individuals with early-stage dementia, with the potential to provide a novel and accessible treatment approach for this condition.
CANNABIS AND CANNABINOID RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Vinicius A. do Rosario, Danielle A. J. M. Schoenaker, Katherine Kent, Katrina Weston-Green, Karen Charlton
Summary: Higher intakes of total flavonoids and subclasses were associated with a lower risk of hypertension in Australian women, with key foods including oranges, orange juice, apples, red wine, and soy milk. These findings can inform nutrition messaging and policies to improve cardiovascular health in women.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
(2021)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Vinicius Andre do Rosario, Jaclyn Spencer, Katrina Weston-Green, Karen Charlton
CURRENT NUTRITION REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Nadia Deflorin, Ulrike Ehlert, Rita T. Amiel Castro
Summary: Changes in the gut microbiome of infants have been associated with maternal psychological symptoms during pregnancy. This study found that maternal prenatal depressive symptoms are associated with lower diversity of the infant's microbiome, while maternal saliva cortisol levels are linked to increased diversity and changes in specific bacterial groups. Further research is needed to understand the implications of these microbiota alterations for child health.
PROGRESS IN NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2024)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Zheng Ma, Hui-Xia Zhou, Da-Chun Chen, Dong-Mei Wang, Xiang-Yang Zhang
Summary: The impaired glucose metabolism in drug-na & iuml;ve schizophrenia patients is strongly associated with suicidal behavior, suggesting that glucose metabolism abnormalities may be potential biomarkers of suicide in schizophrenia patients. Regular monitoring of glucose metabolism variables is essential for suicide prevention.
PROGRESS IN NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2024)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Katie M. Lavigne, Jiaxuan Deng, Delphine Raucher-Chene, Adele Hotte-Meunier, Chloe Voyer, Lisa Sarraf, Martin Lepage, Genevieve Sauve
Summary: Psychiatric disorders are characterized by cognitive deficits and cognitive biases, which are associated with specific symptoms. While cognitive biases are present across diagnoses, their severity varies.
PROGRESS IN NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2024)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Yong-Yu Yin, Jiao-Zhao Yan, Shi-Xin Lai, Qian-Qian Wei, Si-Rui Sun, Li-Ming Zhang, Yun-Feng Li
Summary: This study found that gamma oscillations are closely associated with depression and may serve as predictive biomarkers of depression. Chronic restraint stress and lipopolysaccharide induced significant depression-like behaviors in mice and reduced gamma oscillations in the medial prefrontal cortex. Administration of ketamine, scopolamine, or fluoxetine increased gamma oscillations and exhibited rapid-acting antidepressant effects.
PROGRESS IN NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2024)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Veronica Begni, Moira Marizzoni, Kerstin Camile Creutzberg, Diana Morena Silipo, Mariusz Papp, Annamaria Cattaneo, Marco Andrea Riva
Summary: Exposure to stressful experiences is a significant risk factor for mental disorders, and pharmacological interventions targeting stress-induced alterations can help restore brain function. Lurasidone, an antipsychotic drug, has been shown to normalize the impairments caused by stress exposure and could be a valuable treatment for stress-induced mental illnesses. However, the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of lurasidone are not well understood. This study found that chronic lurasidone treatment counteracted some of the transcriptional changes induced by chronic mild stress exposure, providing new insights into the potential therapeutic effects of lurasidone.
PROGRESS IN NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2024)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Esther E. Palacios-Barrios, Kunal Patel, Jamie L. Hanson
Summary: This review examines the association between early life interpersonal stress (ELIS) and depression, as well as the underlying mechanisms. The research shows that ELIS affects how youth respond to social rewards, and similar impairments in social reward processing are observed in youth with depression. The authors propose a preliminary model that suggests neurobehavioral disruptions in social reward processing as a mediating factor in the connection between ELIS and depression.
PROGRESS IN NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2024)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Rui Li, Jiaming Tang, Yizhuo Wang, Ying Wang, Hua Yang, Hongen Wei
Summary: Restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) are characteristic features of neuropsychiatric disorders. This study focused on repetitive self-grooming behavior and investigated the involvement of the Pax2 gene in its control. Through the use of Pax2 neuron-specific deletion mice, the study found that the deletion of Pax2 gene affects the expression of the Arc gene in the prefrontal cortex, leading to impaired synaptic plasticity and excitatory/inhibitory imbalance, thereby contributing to the occurrence of repetitive self-grooming behavior.
PROGRESS IN NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2024)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Sara Derosa, Paulina Misztak, Jessica Mingardi, Giulia Mazzini, Heidi Kaastrup Muller, Laura Musazzi
Summary: This study investigated the involvement of neurotrophic signaling pathways in stress vulnerability/resilience and fast antidepressant response/non-response to ketamine in a rat model of depression. The findings showed that stress and ketamine induced specific changes in these pathways in different brain areas and subcellular fractions.
PROGRESS IN NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2024)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Georgia F. Caruana, Sean P. Carruthers, Michael Berk, Susan L. Rossell, Tamsyn E. Van Rheenen
Summary: Cognitive impairment is related to both white matter macrostructure and microstructure in bipolar disorder patients. However, there is inconsistency in the results of the studies examining this relationship. Some studies have found an association between higher fractional anisotropy in white matter and better complex attention skills and executive functioning in bipolar disorder patients, while others have found no associations. Further research with increased statistical power and standardized methods is needed.
PROGRESS IN NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2024)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Alberto Galimberti, Martin Tik, Giovanni Pellegrino, Anna-Lisa Schuler
Summary: This study provides a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effectiveness of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for post-traumatic brain injury (TBI) symptoms. The results show that non-invasive brain stimulation techniques have a small overall effect on TBI sequelae, with significant effects observed for anxiety and headache. However, larger randomized controlled trials with longer follow-ups, optimized stimulation parameters, and standardized methodology are needed to establish the efficacy of these techniques in addressing TBI sequelae.
PROGRESS IN NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2024)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Amanda J. Sales, Pedro H. Gobira, Joa F. C. Pedrazzi, Joao R. Silveia, Elaine Del Bel, Felipe V. Gomes, Francisco S. Guimaraes
Summary: The study found that doxycycline can inhibit metalloproteinase in the brain and attenuate the rewarding effects and locomotor sensitization of drug abuse. This suggests that doxycycline could be repurposed for the treatment of substance use disorders.
PROGRESS IN NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2024)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Alejandro Borrego-Ruiz, Juan J. Borrego
Summary: There is substantial evidence that the development of the nervous system is related to the composition and functions of the gut microbiome. The communication between the central nervous system (CNS) and the gut microbiota is bidirectional, with various routes such as immune, endocrine, and neural circuits. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota has been associated with neuropsychiatric diseases and psychological disorders. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) therapy has shown a causal-effect relationship between the gut microbiota and behavioral features. Interventions based on prebiotics, probiotics, or synbiotics have demonstrated their influence on neurological disorders through the synthesis of neuroactive compounds and regulation of inflammatory and endocrine processes. Further research is needed to explore the impact of gut microbiota dysbiosis on psychiatric and psychological disorders and the potential therapeutic role of microbiota-based interventions.
PROGRESS IN NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2024)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Zhinan Li, Zhuang Kang, Xiaowei Xia, Leijun Li, Junyan Wu, Jiamin Dai, Tong Liu, Cai Chen, Yong Qiu, Ming Chen, Yanxi Liu, Ziyi Zhang, Zili Han, Zhengjia Dai, Qinling Wei
Summary: This study found that patients with schizophrenia showed lower levels of resilience and cognitive functions compared to healthy controls, as well as abnormal global properties and nodal metrics in brain networks. Furthermore, characteristic path length might moderate the relationship between resilience and working memory in these patients.
PROGRESS IN NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2024)
Article
Clinical Neurology
David H. Adamowicz, Tsung-Chin Wu, Rebecca Daly, Michael R. Irwin, Dilip Jeste, Xin M. Tu, Lisa T. Eyler, Ellen E. Lee
Summary: This study aimed to explore the relationship between executive functioning and inflammatory biomarkers in people with schizophrenia. The results showed that systemic inflammation did not predict long-term declines in executive functioning. This suggests the need for further research to better understand the relationship and mechanisms between inflammation and cognition in schizophrenia.
PROGRESS IN NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2024)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Nina Walter, Julian Wenzel, Shalaila S. Haas, Letizia Squarcina, Carolina Bonivento, Anne Ruef, Dominic Dwyer, Theresa Lichtenstein, Oeznur Bastruek, Alexandra Stainton, Linda A. Antonucci, Paolo Brambilla, Stephen J. Wood, Rachel Upthegrove, Stefan Borgwardt, Rebekka Lencer, Eva Meisenzahl, Raimo K. R. Salokangas, Christos Pantelis, Alessandro Bertolino, Nikolaos Koutsouleris, Joseph Kambeitz, Lana Kambeitz-Ilankovic
Summary: Clinical and neuroimaging data can be used to predict the potential of cognitive training to improve social functioning in recent onset psychosis patients. The use of multivariate pattern analysis and support vector machine classifier allows for the prediction of social functioning improvement based on baseline cognitive data. The findings suggest that cognitive data can provide a robust individual estimate of future social functioning for patients with recent onset psychosis.
PROGRESS IN NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2024)