Local Hormones and Neurolipidomics in schizophrenia
Adonis Sfera, Sabine Hazan, Peter G Bota, Jonathan J Anton, Garth L Nicolson.
Chronic mental illnesses, including schizophrenia, have been associated with premature brain aging manifested on neuroimaging as gray matter loss. This has been associated with impaired insight (anosognosia) and suboptimal treatment outcome. Novel strategies for addressing premature brain aging are urgently needed and somatostatin up regulation may avert gray matter loss. Recent studies, involving non-pituitary growth hormone and p53, have offered early glimpses into the molecular underpinnings of cellular senescence in SCZ. Moreover, age-downregulated somatostatin and activation of Human Endogenous Retroviruses likely drive the negative and cognitive symptoms of SCZ.
In this perspective article, we discuss the following: 1) neuropsychiatric implications of premature brain aging, 2) potential therapies for restoring the homeostasis of somatostatin and non-pituitary growth hormone.
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