It is known that schizophrenia can be inherited. As such the authors of this study, published in Nature Neuroscience, investigated why some individuals with schizophrenia in their family went on to develop the condition and why some did not.
The researchers discovered that a variation in the neuregulin gene results in a higher risk of developing psychotic symptoms. Scans in these individuals also revealed increased abnormal activity in the frontal and temporal regions of the brain, areas associated with schizophrenia.
Whilst these results do not provide a direct link to schizophrenia, they will help with diagnosis and the development of future treatments.
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