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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by linkadge on July 2, 2007, at 16:55:30
An interesting read:
http://www.schizophrenia.com/research/schiz.brain.htm
Linkadge
Posted by Klavot on July 3, 2007, at 1:46:17
In reply to Progressive loss of grey matter in Schizophrenia, posted by linkadge on July 2, 2007, at 16:55:30
That is scary. Do antipsychotics slow down or halt this destruction of brain tissue?
Klavot
Posted by linkadge on July 3, 2007, at 9:12:02
In reply to Re: Progressive loss of grey matter in Schizophrenia » linkadge, posted by Klavot on July 3, 2007, at 1:46:17
Thats what I'd like to know. I think the data is not there on that particular question.
As a side note. Lithium therapy has been shown to increase grey matter volume (at least in bipolar disorder).
Perhaps a low dose of lithium might prevent grey matter wanning?
But its a finding that lends itself perfectly to the progressive deterioration in ability to think logically.
Linkadge
Posted by Klavot on July 3, 2007, at 9:46:55
In reply to Re: Progressive loss of grey matter in Schizophrenia, posted by linkadge on July 3, 2007, at 9:12:02
I've seen some researchers speculate that depression is nothing but a neurodegenerative disease. I believe that there is similar long-term atrophy with untreated depression.
Regarding drugs that promote neurogenesis, could it be that these drugs lead to greater BDNF in the brain simply because the brain is trying to protect itself against a perceived chemical assault from the drugs?
Klavot
Posted by linkadge on July 3, 2007, at 11:15:46
In reply to Re: Progressive loss of grey matter in Schizophrenia, posted by Klavot on July 3, 2007, at 9:46:55
>Regarding drugs that promote neurogenesis, could >it be that these drugs lead to greater BDNF in >the brain simply because the brain is trying to >protect itself against a perceived chemical >assault from the drugs?
In most cases, thats what (I think) is probably happenening. Many of the BDNF studies only look at short term administration of antidepressants etc. Wheather or not SSRI's increased BDNF a year later is the question. I wouldn't be suprised to find BDNF at pretreatment levels after such time.
And like you say, the brain does release BDNF in response to potential threats. Ie exercise, fasting, seizures, brain injury etc.
After head injury, BDNF levels are VERY high.
Linkadge
Posted by Sentience on July 6, 2007, at 10:38:48
In reply to Re: Progressive loss of grey matter in Schizophrenia, posted by linkadge on July 3, 2007, at 11:15:46
The reference is quite a few years old now, being from back in 2001. I wonder what advances have been made with that image analysis technique and whether any studies have been conducted to tease out the reasons for the atrophy that was observed. It is possible that the changes seen were a result of 'schizophrenic thinking', rather than the cause, or more likely an interaction between the two. Similarly the same could be said of the neurodegenerative changes seen in the brains of people with depression and bipolar, as in that the modality of thinking/feeling contributed to the changes.
This is the end of the thread.
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