Researchers, led by Virginia Commonwealth University, have discovered early-life markers that may predict susceptibility to schizophrenia using blood samples from newborns. Analyzing 24 million methylation marks from samples taken shortly after birth from 333 infants in Sweden, they found specific methylation differences that correlate with an increased risk of developing schizophrenia later in life. This groundbreaking study aims to enable early detection and intervention, potentially reducing the disorder’s impact on affected individuals and their communities.
Schizophrenia, affecting about 1% of the population, is typically diagnosed in young adulthood and is linked to severe effects like social isolation and higher mortality rates. While genetics play a role in the disease, environmental factors significantly influence its onset, often causing chemical changes in DNA through methylation. To avoid confounding influences from the disease itself, the researchers utilized neonatal blood samples to ensure the findings were unaffected by postnatal factors.
The team validated their results against transcriptional data from 595 postmortem brain samples, finding that the identified methylation patterns could lead to the development of clinical biomarkers for early detection of schizophrenia. Further research is planned to explore these markers’ clinical potential.
