Health and Me

Ishita Srivastava

Experts Reveals How The Placenta Increases Schizophrenia Risk In Adults

<span><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/schizophrenia">Schizophrenia</a></span> is a severe, chronic brain disorder that can lead <span>psychosis</span>, <span>hallucinations</span>, <span>delusions</span>, disorganized thinking and reduced emotional expression. It can affect how a person thinks, feels and behaves, making it hard to distinguish reality.

The chronic neurological condition affects less than one percent of the global population and typically emerges in late teens to early thirties, requiring lifelong treatment. 

However, Canadian researchers have now pointed towards the <span>placenta</span> as a possible source of early indicators of schizophrenia risk.

According to the scientists, the placenta can "record" what happens during pregnancy and can reflect both healthy and unhealthy conditions for the baby, a phenomenon known as the placenta-brain axis. 

The theory suggests that when the placenta is negatively affected, brain development may also be harmed in both the short and long term and increase the baby's risk of developing the lifelong condition. 

Multiple large-scale studies have found that in pregnancies where babies are born with low birth weight, certain genetic markers in the placenta are altered. These changes are strongly linked to a higher risk of schizophrenia and other developmental problems, such as autism and learning difficulties.

There is also strong evidence that using cannabis during pregnancy can harm a baby’s brain development and increase the risk of schizophrenia. 

However, while cannabis use during pregnancy is known to be linked to low birth weight, it is still unclear whether cannabis exposure affects the same placental genetic markers associated with schizophrenia.

<h2>How Is Brain Impacted During Schizophrenia?</h2>

In schizophrenia, the brain experiences structural and chemical changes that disrupt normal thinking, emotions, and behaviour. Research shows that people with schizophrenia often have reduced grey matter volume, particularly in areas involved in memory, emotion, and decision-making, like the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. 

Abnormalities in neurotransmitters, especially dopamine and glutamate, also play a key role, leading to symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and cognitive difficulties. Connectivity between different brain regions may become impaired, affecting the brain's ability to process information smoothly. 

These changes typically emerge gradually, often beginning in late adolescence or early adulthood, and vary significantly from person to person.

<h2>How To Identify Schizophrenia?</h2>Schizotypal Personality Disorder is part of Cluster A personality disorders. Other disorders in this cluster include paranoid personality disorder and schizoid personality disorder. Individuals with this condition struggle with social and interpersonal skills, especially when forming close relationships. This occurs alongside eccentric behaviour and perceptual or cognitive distortions.

According to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition), schizophrenia is diagnosed based on a set of specific symptoms. Here's the list of core symptoms:

<ul><li>Delusions – strong false beliefs not based in reality (e.g., believing you are being persecuted or have special powers).</li><li>Hallucinations – hearing, seeing, or sensing things that aren't actually there (most commonly auditory hallucinations).</li><li>Disorganised speech – frequent derailment, incoherence, or illogical conversation.</li><li>Grossly disorganised or catatonic behavior – unpredictable agitation, inappropriate behaviour, or lack of movement/responsiveness.</li><li>Negative symptoms – diminished emotional expression, reduced motivation (avolition), reduced speech (alogia), social withdrawal, or inability to experience pleasure (anhedonia).</li></ul>

Health Conditions A-Z

health

schizophrenia

Schizotypal Personality Disorder (Schizophrenia)

placenta

Schizophrenia placenta

pregnancy brain development

baby brain development

Brain Tumours

hallucinations

psychosis

delusions

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Schizophrenia is a severe, chronic brain disorder that can lead psychosis, hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking and reduced emotional expression. It can affect how a person thinks, feels and behaves, making it hard to distinguish reality.The chronic neurological condition affects less than one percent of the global population and typically emerges in late teens to early thirties, requiring lifelong treatment. However, Canadian researchers have now pointed towards the placenta as a possible source of early indicators of schizophrenia risk.According to the scientists, the placenta can "record" what happens during pregnancy and can reflect both healthy and unhealthy conditions for the baby, a phenomenon known as the placenta-brain axis. The theory suggests that when the placenta is negatively affected, brain development may also be harmed in both the short and long term and increase the baby's risk of developing the lifelong condition. Multiple large-scale studies have found that in pregnancies where babies are born with low birth weight, certain genetic markers in the placenta are altered. These changes are strongly linked to a higher risk of schizophrenia and other developmental problems, such as autism and learning difficulties.There is also strong evidence that using cannabis during pregnancy can harm a baby’s brain development and increase the risk of schizophrenia. However, while cannabis use during pregnancy is known to be linked to low birth weight, it is still unclear whether cannabis exposure affects the same placental genetic markers associated with schizophrenia.How Is Brain Impacted During Schizophrenia?In schizophrenia, the brain experiences structural and chemical changes that disrupt normal thinking, emotions, and behaviour. Research shows that people with schizophrenia often have reduced grey matter volume, particularly in areas involved in memory, emotion, and decision-making, like the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Abnormalities in neurotransmitters, especially dopamine and glutamate, also play a key role, leading to symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and cognitive difficulties. Connectivity between different brain regions may become impaired, affecting the brain's ability to process information smoothly. These changes typically emerge gradually, often beginning in late adolescence or early adulthood, and vary significantly from person to person.How To Identify Schizophrenia?Schizotypal Personality Disorder is part of Cluster A personality disorders. Other disorders in this cluster include paranoid personality disorder and schizoid personality disorder. Individuals with this condition struggle with social and interpersonal skills, especially when forming close relationships. This occurs alongside eccentric behaviour and perceptual or cognitive distortions.According to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition), schizophrenia is diagnosed based on a set of specific symptoms. Here's the list of core symptoms:Delusions – strong false beliefs not based in reality (e.g., believing you are being persecuted or have special powers).Hallucinations – hearing, seeing, or sensing things that aren't actually there (most commonly auditory hallucinations).Disorganised speech – frequent derailment, incoherence, or illogical conversation.Grossly disorganised or catatonic behavior – unpredictable agitation, inappropriate behaviour, or lack of movement/responsiveness.Negative symptoms – diminished emotional expression, reduced motivation (avolition), reduced speech (alogia), social withdrawal, or inability to experience pleasure (anhedonia).