Schizophrenia, a severe and debilitating mental disorder, is said to affect about 24 million people worldwide. Unlike a majority of medical conditions, which are detected by various methods like blood tests, MRIs and biopsies, schizophrenia is diagnosed only through interviews with patients and through psychological tests, and therefore a definitive diagnosis may be difficult.
But a new finding by researchers at Tel Aviv University and Johns Hopkins University gives hope not only for a more accurate diagnosis of schizophrenia but also for the crucial, early detection of the disease, paving way for an improved treatment.
As part of the study, researchers collected samples of olfactory neurons, found in a small patch of tissue on the upper part of the inside of the nose, through a simple biopsy from patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and a control group of non-affected individuals.
The microRNA profiles of the collected samples were studied by applying a high-throughput technology. The researchers found that a specific microRNA was elevated in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia compared to healthy individuals. Further study also revealed that this particular microRNA controls genes associated with the generation of neurons, said the researchers.
Noam Shomron of Tel Aviv University's Sackler Faculty of Medicine says that finding the timeline of the change in microRNA expression - i.e., finding whether the alteration in microRNA expression begins before schizophrenic symptoms manifest themselves, or only after the disease fully develops, would lead to early diagnosis, better treatment, and possibly even the postponement of symptoms.
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June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.