Scientists from Fudan University in Shanghai have discovered a link between childhood obesity and schizophrenia in adults. Research results It was published In the journal Science Advances (SciAdv).
The study involved volunteers whose genetic data were obtained during two previous large studies by scientists from the International Consortium for Psychiatric Genomics and experts from the FinnGen project (collection of biological samples from Finnish residents). The team examined all cases where people were obese as children and found out whether they developed mental health problems as they got older.
The mental health problems the scientists tried to identify included OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), major depression, anxiety disorders, Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia. The researchers found no link between early-onset obesity and any mental disorder other than schizophrenia.
Additional research has shown that people who gain a lot of weight in adulthood have a reduced risk of developing schizophrenia.
Scientists are not yet able to explain the mechanisms underlying this effect. They suggest that obesity has a specific effect on the developing brain and causes disruptions in its functioning.
Earlier scientists I learnedVideo games improve the mental health of people with schizophrenia.
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Source: Gazeta
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