MRI Scans Can Detect Chemical Imbalance in Brain

A similar degree of NADH elevation was also seen in newly diagnosed schizophrenia, suggesting that oxidation imbalance is present even in the early stages of illness. Modest NADH increases were also seen in bipolar disorder, which shares some genetic and clinical overlap with schizophrenia. The study was presented at the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology annual meeting, held during December 2016 in Hollywood (FL, USA).

“Intensive energy demands on brain cells lead to accumulation of highly reactive oxygen species, such as free radicals and hydrogen peroxide. However, measuring this process in the living human brain has remained challenging,” said lead author Fei Du, PhD, an assistant professor of psychiatry at HMS. “In addition to offering new insights into the biology of schizophrenia, this finding also provides a potential way to test the effectiveness of new interventions.”

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by abnormal social behavior and failure to comprehend reality. Common symptoms include false beliefs, unclear or confused thinking, hearing voices, reduced social engagement and emotional expression, and a lack of motivation. People with schizophrenia often have additional mental health problems such as anxiety disorders, major depressive illness, or substance use disorders. Schizophrenia does not imply a split or multiple personality disorder, conditions with which it is often confused in public perception.

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