"Common Brain Changes in Schizophrenia and Aging"

A study by researchers from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Harvard Medical School, and McLean Hospital has uncovered shared cellular and molecular changes in the brains of individuals with schizophrenia and older adults, indicating a common biological basis for cognitive impairments in these groups. The study identified a coordinated reduction in genes supporting synaptic connections by neurons and astrocytes, known as the Synaptic Neuron and Astrocyte Program (SNAP), which reflects the brain’s synaptic health and declines with age. Understanding SNAP's dynamics could lead to strategies for enhancing synaptic health and potentially identifying interventions to preserve cognitive functions in schizophrenia and aging.