A diagnosis still too subjective
There schizophrenia It is a serious and debilitating mental disorder that affects between 0.3% and 0.7% of the population. Symptoms are divided into positives (delusions, hallucinations, disorganized behavior) and negatives (apathy, emotional isolation) and often appear at a young age. Currently, the diagnosis is based exclusively onclinical interpretation of symptoms, a method that may be imprecise, especially in the presence of symptoms that overlap with other disorders such as bipolar disorder or theautism. It is therefore essential to identify more objective tools to recognize the disease early and improve treatment options.
The potential of metabolic biomarkers
In recent years there has been a growing interest in identifying biomarkers, i.e. measurable biological indicators that can support the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders. Among the emerging techniques, the metabolomics, which analyses the metabolites —small molecules present in body fluids such as blood, urine, or cerebrospinal fluid. This discipline allows us to obtain a snapshot of the physiological state of the organism. In schizophrenia, recent studies have observed alterations in the levels of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), vitamin E, creatinine, glutamate and other compounds. These variations could constitute a metabolic signature of the disease, useful both for early diagnosis and for monitoring the response to treatments.
Towards more precise medicine
From the analysis of hundreds of metabolites, for which advanced techniques such as mass spectrometry and the nuclear magnetic resonance, recurring patterns emerge. If confirmed by further research, the metabolomic biomarkers could revolutionize the diagnosis and the clinical management of schizophrenia, making psychiatry a more objective and personalized.
For further information:
Davison J, OGorman A, Brennan L, Cotter DR. A systematic review of metabolite biomarkers of schizophrenia. Schizophr Res. 2018 May;195:32-50.