New clinical trial may improve cognitive function in those with schizophrenia and diabetes

Date: Aug-28-2013In a joint study between Australia's University of Wollongong and China's Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, researchers led by Dr Mei Han have found that the prevention and treatment of diabetes might prove especially beneficial for people with schizophrenia and may yield better cognitive outcomes in immediate memory and attention, which would improve daily life and restore skills that could allow them back into the workforce.

Diabetes has been reported to occur about two to four times more often in patients with schizophrenia than in the general population. As people with schizophrenia or diabetes alone are more vulnerable to cognitive impairment, it was thought that patients with both diseases may suffer an increased rate and magnitude of cognitive deficits.

The study, which was published in scientific journal PLoS One, found this to be accurate with indications that people with both schizophrenia and diabetes were more cognitively impaired in the areas of immediate memory and attention than people with schizophrenia alone and people with diabetes alone.

These findings indicate that the memory deficits associated with schizophrenia could reflect deficiencies in glucose regulation, and that improvement of glucose metabolism could improve these deficits.

"A number of our previous studies have shown us that many atypical antipsychotics increase the likelihood of people with schizophrenia developing Type II diabetes," says Professor Xu-Feng Huang at the University of Wollongong. "What this study tells us is that by treating diabetes we may be able to improve one area of schizophrenia, the cognitive aspect, which would have an undoubtable positive impact on everyday life."

Preclinical studies, led by Institute-supported Prof. Huang, have also indicated that compounds teasaponin, which is found in green tea, and DHA, which can be found in fish oil, could be useful as adjunct treatments in reducing chronic brain inflammation that is linked with the causes of obesity, type II diabetes and cognitive impairment.

Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.