"Breakthrough: Blood Test Predicts Psychiatric Disorder Risks and Brain-Related Changes"

Johns Hopkins researchers are making progress in developing a blood test that could detect changes in the brain associated with psychiatric and neurological disorders by examining extracellular vesicles in the blood, which carry messenger RNA reflecting changes in brain tissues. This advancement could lead to early detection of mental health emergencies and the development of a simple blood test for identifying brain disorders involving mood, schizophrenia, epilepsy, and substance abuse. The researchers also hope their work will pave the way for the next generation of prenatal tests, enabling doctors to screen for health issues in babies by drawing blood from the mother.