Increased levels of alpha-defensin indicates risk for schizophrenia
The diagnosis of schizophrenia is a complex and often imprecise process, which can take many months and often years. Delayed or inaccurate diagnosis of mental illness can have a negative impact on disease progression and outcomes.
According to a study published in this month’s issue of the journal Molecular and Cellular Proteomics, a particular type of protein found at high levels in the blood of people with schizophrenia may be a reliable indicator of the risk of developing the disorder.
Researchers found that the protein, called alpha-defensin, was present at significantly higher levels in the blood of people with schizophrenia than in the blood of people without the disorder.
Researchers also investigated the levels of alpha-defensin in the blood of 21 pairs of twins, in which one sibling had developed schizophrenia but the other had not. They found that, in these pairs of twins, both siblings had significantly increased levels of alpha-defensin as compared with a group of mentally healthy twins. This finding suggests that an increased level of alpha-defensin in the blood does not indicate the onset of schizophrenia, but could be used as an indicator of the risk of developing the disorder.
Reference:
