Schizophrenia, different mechanisms underlying cognitive symptoms for males and females

17.04.2024

The study, Sex dimorphism controls dysbindin-related cognitive dysfunctions in mice and humans with the contribution of COMT offers insight into the role of gender on the molecular mechanisms of schizophrenia, helping researchers to clarify the variability between males and females during the onset of cognitive symptoms of the disease. Published by a team of researchers from the universities of Padua, Catania, and Bari Aldo Moro, the work appears in the Molecular Psychiatry journal of Nature.

The study demonstrates that symptoms found in more than 80% of patients represent one of the main problems of those with schizophrenia, thus causing daily work and life disruptions. Cognitive symptoms persist even during disease remission, with little to no relief from current pharmacological options.

The work highlights that the interaction between two genes (DTNBP1* and COMT*), implicated in the control of cognitive functions and involved in the pathophysiological processes of schizophrenia, depends on the patient's gender. This result suggests the possibility of personalized therapies for the cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia different for males and females based on their genetic profile.