Timing of genes expressed in schizophrenia could help explain the disease

The timing of when genes are expressed — whether they’re turned on or off — in the brain may help explain schizophrenia, according to new research. Scientists looked at gene expression data in the brains from 92 people, half of whom had schizophrenia when they were alive, and the other half who had been neurotypical. Specifically, they looked at samples from a part of the brain responsible for cognition and memory. Genes in the samples from neurotypical brains were expressed on a different schedule, on average, than the genes in the samples from the schizophrenia brains. In the schizophrenia samples, genes impacting immune function showed the most disruption in their schedule, as did genes controlling the function of mitochondria in cells. The work could help explain the differences observed in schizophrenia, but more research is needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms.