CURRENT STATUS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA RESEARCH AT THE BEGINNING OF 2025

This article presents the latest status and developments in schizophrenia research, taking into account different medications, new therapeutic options, and genetic aspects.

Schizophrenia is a complex mental illness that causes a number of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral disturbances. In recent years, researchers have paid increasing attention to the genetic, neurobiological, and psychological aspects of the disease. Below, we review the latest research and drug developments in the field of schizophrenia.

Medications currently used to treat schizophrenia include antipsychotics, which fall into two main categories:

1. First-generation antipsychotics: Examples include haloperidol and chlorpromazine. These medicines work primarily by blocking dopamine receptors, but can have a number of side effects, such as extrapyramidal symptoms.

2. Second-generation antipsychotics: These include olanzapine, risperidone, and aripiprazole. These medicines affect not only dopamine but also other neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, which reduces the incidence of side effects.

Thanks to the continuous work of researchers, promising developments are taking place in the following areas:

- Dopamine and glutamate modulators: New medications include modulators of dopamine and glutamate receptors, which aim to improve cognitive function and reduce positive/negative symptoms.

- Anti-inflammatory agents: The role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia is increasingly appreciated, and new anti-inflammatory agents are being developed.

Minocycline, which is an antibiotic that research suggests may help reduce both positive and negative symptoms by reducing brain inflammation.

N-acetylcysteine (NAC), which some studies suggest may help improve cognitive function and reduce negative symptoms.

IL-1β inhibitors (i.e., interleukin-1β) are an inflammatory cytokine that may play a role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Research is currently underway to investigate the efficacy of IL-1β inhibitors, such as anakinra.

And although it sounds well-known and obvious, Omega-3 fatty acids, which are also known for their anti-inflammatory effects, studies have shown that they may also be effective in alleviating schizophrenia.

However, most research is increasingly focusing on cognitive dysfunction, because these symptoms significantly affect patients' quality of life and social functioning. Cognitive impairments, such as problems with attention, memory, and executive function, often appear early in the disease and persist during treatment. Effective treatment of these disorders can contribute to the rehabilitation of patients and improve their functional independence.

Research into the genetic variations underlying schizophrenia is also receiving increasing attention. In recent years, several large-scale genetic studies, such as the PsychENCODE project and the Schizophrenia Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC), have identified genetic markers that are associated with risk of the disease.

These studies shed new light on the etiological models of the disease and provide opportunities to identify new therapeutic targets.

Schizophrenia research is undergoing continuous development, which includes drug development, studies of cognitive functions and genetic variations. Future research aims to offer patients even more effective treatment options and thereby improve their quality of life.