Brain Traffic Jam and Schizophrenia: Possible New Treatments?Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D. Updated: Aug 13th 2009 In a recent Blog on "Schizophrenia and Residential Issues," (August 3, 2009), there was a discussion of some of the causes of this serious mental illness. Since that Blog was published an exciting new piece of research done at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine was published that presents the possibilities for new forms of treatment. The picture accompanying this article shows neurons that this and the older article discuss.
It seems that mouse brains bear some important similarities to human brains. The research involved the use of mice that were genetically engineered to produce symptoms of schizophrenia mice, similar to what humans experience.
What was discovered was that a brain protein called Kalirin is needed in human brains to build the dense network of dendrites (branches at the end of neurons or nerve cells) that carry messages throughout the body and brain. If there is an inadequate supply of Kalirin, as occurs in the brains of patients with schizophrenia, then there are not enough dendrites developed to carry messages. The result is a traffic jam in the brain. Especially in the frontal lobes of the brain, multiple highways are narrowed down to a single lane from 6 to 7 brain roads. You know what its like when you are stuck in that type of traffic jam. It takes a very long time for the traffic to flow from multiple lanes down into one.
In the brains of people with schizophrenia the messaged flowing along the nerve pathways are jammed and taking too long to travel. Lots of distortion and miscommunication occurs.
Those familiar with schizophrenia know the results of the traffic jam. Thinking, reasoning, judgement, and sensory experiences are all distorted, preventing the individual from becoming a fully integrated and functioning member of society.
The reason why this new research is so exciting is that it could to lead to new and much more successful treatments for this brain disease. At present, the only medications available for schizophrenia are anti psychotic treatments. These suppress hallucinations and somewhat correct delusional thinking. However, the side effects are terrible and the over-all success of these medications leave a lot to be desired on the part of patients with the disease and their families.
On the other hand, new treatments based on these latest findings, could correct the communication process in the brain. Perhaps this could occur from the stimulation of the growth of new dendrites, ending the traffic jam and clearing the communication path that is jammed in those with this disease.
Are we talking possible cure? Maybe! However, much work must continue. All of the new research into how the brain develops and functions is very exciting. It is possible to imagine a time in the future when much of human emotional or psychiatric suffering can end. This will not happen today or tomorrow. But, the day after tomorrow? What do you think?
All readers are invited to share experiences with schizophrenia as well as the other mental illnesses. It is fine if these experiences happened to you personally or to a loved one, family member or dear friend. Have you recovered from a psychotic episode? Do you want to write about the experience? If yes, we invite you and all others to do so.
Allan N. Schwartz, PhD.
20 yr old son - - Nov 5th 2009
i share the fear and distress of every mother who has lost her child to this illness. The meds are terrible but the alternative is worse. my son won't speak to me now for the last 2 weeks since he went off his meds. I am helpless Worried Mother - Allan N. Schwartz, PhD - Sep 12th 2009
Dear Tina,
Your fears are those experienced by every parent with an adult child who has Schizophrenia. That is why it is important that those who carry this terrible diagnosis learn to function as independtly as is realistically possible. To that end, I recommend to you and others that you visit this important web site:
http://www.schizophrenia.com
There, you will find all the information and resources that you need to help your son above and beyond medication treatment. There are many types of housing arrangements available for people with this illness. While free to live in the community, within these types of housing, patients receive many types of support to help them cope with their symptoms.
I also recommend that you visit this helpful site:
National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI):
http://www.nami.com
There, you will learn more information for you and your son.
Good Luck my son has schizophenia now for 4 yrs - tina - Sep 12th 2009
my son is 20 yrs old he has had this terrible illness for 4 yrs he is my only child and my biggest fear is if anything ever happens to me where will my son end up if they ever found a cure it would for my son and all these other people with this illness that are treated unfairly it would be the best thing in the world | 
RSS Feed
Readers in the Boulder, Colorado metro area (or Denver area people willing to drive) may contact Dr. Schwartz for face-to-face consultation and psychotherapy. Email him at dransphd@aol.com for details.