Schizophrenia

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Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Schizophrenia

by Craig Olson

Introduction

Several reports have appeared in the professional literature

implicating mitochondrial dysfunction as causing schizophrenia. In

March 2001 a report appeared in Schizophrenia Research by Maurer et

al of Germany. This paper reported " evidence for a mitochondrial

oxidative defect in brains of patients with schizophrenia " .

Maurer et al (2001)

This report claims " an impairment of energy metabolism in brains

of patients with schizophrenia " . " Decreased oxidative metabolism has

been consistently documented in the frontal lobes. " Measurements by

the German group " confirm a defect of oxidative phosphorylation in

brains from patients with schizophrenia, which may contribute to

impaired energy generation " . Post-mortem brain specimens were used.

The maximum reductions were in the frontal cortex, the temporal

cortex, and the basal ganglia. There was no reduction in the

cerebellum.

Ben-Shachar (2002)

This report came from Israel. Ben-Shachar recommended " " novel

treatment approaches " . The author suspected " linkage to dopamine " .

The author claimed " altered cerebral energy metabolism " .

Uranova and Aganova (1989)

This report related the results of microscopic analysis of autopsy

specimens. They reported deformation and reduction in the number of

mitochondria. Similar results were reported by Kung and Roberts

(1999). Kolomeet and Uranova (1999) reported similar findings.

Prabakaran et al (2004)

This report appeared in Molecular Psychiatry. The University of

Cambridge group in England reported " mitochondrial dysfunction in

schizophrenia " . They used techniques called transcriptomics,

proteomics, and metabolomics. They reported " confounding drug

effects could be ruled out " .

Conclusions

" Altered proteins " were reported by the British group. They

suggested " compromised brain metabolism " . This is certainly food for

thought. What to do in the way of treatment is not yet clear,

unfortunately. My own opinion is that a diet might help.