Breakthrough to help silence 'voices' of schizophrenia

Researchers from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital announced yesterday that they have isolated and characterized a small segment of RNA known as “microRNA” that may hold promise in silencing the bothersome voices which haunt schizophrenic patients.

By manipulating this small segment of RNA, the researchers hope to restore normal function to the brain circuit associated with the “voices” and well as other types of hallucinations associated with schizophrenia.

Ultimately, this finding is important because it may serve as a target for developing novel antipsychotic drugs , but without the bothersome side effects (sedation, blurred vision, drowsiness, dry mouth, weight gain) that currently reduce compliance and thus limit their effectiveness.