A recent study revealed that having schizophrenia increases the risk of death by about 15 years in patients compared to healthy subjects.
According to research findings published in the journal (Molecular Psychology), schizophrenia was associated with an increased risk of premature death as a result of suicide or poor physical health, which could be due to advanced brain aging.
The study was conducted on more than 5,000 people, 2,803 patients with schizophrenia and 2,598 healthy subjects, aged 18 to 73 years.
Previous studies attributed the high prevalence of the disease, the occurrence of long-term cognitive decline, and the increased number of deaths in patients with schizophrenia to the fact that the biological age of the brain exceeded its chronological age.
Studies have revealed that this disparity, called the difference in brain life expectancy, is greater in patients with schizophrenia than in healthy subjects.
Studies have also shown that the gap between biological age and chronological brain age widens especially during the first few years after disease onset.
This is because patients with schizophrenia have PAD, and these findings are consistent with previous studies showing increased brain PAD in patients with schizophrenia and psychosis.
The study concluded that prediction of brain age and PAD could be a factor in prevention and early intervention strategies for the disease.
Lack of regular follow-up with a psychiatrist is one of the most important problems for patients with schizophrenia, and continued follow-up and regular treatments can help reduce these risks.
Brain aging in people with schizophrenia
Advanced brain aging may explain why, on average, people with schizophrenia have significantly shortened lifespans.#schizophrenia #psychology #neuroscience #sciencehttps://t.co/xGDgFzlLdQ
— Neuroscience News (@NeuroscienceNew) January 9, 2023
