Research update: Metabolic abnormalities in schizophrenia

TAC relies on its supporting organization the Stanley Medical Research Institute (SMRI), which carries out research to ascertain the causes of and develop better treatments for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. A recent update from SMRI follows.

One of the most successful SMRI grants has been to the Institute of Biotechnology at the University of Cambridge in England. The program, directed by Dr. Sabine Bahn, has continued to publish studies describing metabolic abnormalities in individuals with schizophrenia. Many of these abnormalities involve glucose metabolism, which is especially important since it is now known that antipsychotic medication can also disturb glucose metabolism. Dr. Bahn’s group is utilizing their findings to try to develop new medications for treating schizophrenia.