Schizophrenia News: Cognitive Deficit Syndrome

Cognitive deficit is a huge problem, but my neuro thinks it can be reversed, at least somewhat.

I've noticed gains in my memory across all functions recently, and I attribute it to supplements I'm taking as well as I believe the disease can get better for cognition!

So it's not all bad news, at least not for everyone.

I think each case is different and some people's cognition are affected more than others.

I appreciate this share post Christina, and people should realize that it's a huge huge problem.

I emailed someone at NIMH, about drugs for this problem and she gave an estimate of 5 to 10 years for cognitive drugs of this kind.  I don't know if that is a conservative or liberal estimate.

Anyway, thanks for the post, and yes I've talked with many schizophrenics who complain of this problem.

Devon

Interesting to say the least.

Maybe I was treated in time. I always blame my memory loss because of the ECT's, which in fact happens. I also attributed the loss to aging.

I wasn't given treatment for about 2 months, when I first got sick. Maybe that has alot to do with my voices.

You have given me some food for thought.

I look forward to your follow up sharepost.

Thank you,

Dave

Hi Christina,

This cognitive argument has been going on for quite a while.          It seems that a significant percentage of psychiatry dismisses this avenue of treatment completely or is unwilling to look at the facts.              Cognitive testing is standard procedure in many work-rehab offices and years of research and results should make much of the "old guard" of psychiatry wake up and smell the roses.

I, personally, have had cognitive testing four times in my life, with each test a long grueling process taking hours, even days.           I found the information informative and was able to move, in each case, to a better way of treatment.

Take care,

Don F.

Hi everyone,

Today I checked my mail and the Fall 2009 issue of SZ magazine had arrived.  In the News Update section of this magazine, a report talked about new research aimed at determining if a novel medication, Modafinil, which elevates neurotransmitter functions, can restore cognitive processes that are impaired in people diagnosed with schizophrenia. 

Michael Minzenberg, MD an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of California-Davis, has been selected to receive a 2009 Clinical Scientist Development Award for his pioneering work in treating schizophrenia.  The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation selected him along with 13 other physician-scientists in the U.S. to receive $405,000 over three years for biomedical discoveries and their translation into new treatments, preventions and cures for human diseases.

Minzenberg will track the effectiveness of Modafinil using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the prefrontal cortex.  This area of the brain controls executive abilities such as planning, using rules, inhibiting inapproriate action, and prioritizing sensory input.

This is a step in a hopeful direction: I will keep track of this and definitely alert you as to the results of this research.