Brain Damage from Meth Abuse Closely Resembles Schizophrenia

Researchers from the University of Sydney, in Australia, have published a new study revealing how the methamphetamine-induced sensitization of the brain looks a lot like that of schizophrenia patients; i.e. both meth users and schizophrenics have the same structural damage to their grey matter.When examining their findings, researchers discovered that neurological changes induced by methamphetamine use are very similar to the structural damage and protein alterations found in the brains of schizophrenics.The study, which was published in the Journal of Proteome Research, was developed to research changes in protein expression in the prefrontal cortex of male rats that were sensitized to methamphetamine. By repeatedly dosing the rats with meth, they noted an increase in locomotor behavioral functions. The changes were a direct result of alterations to the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of the brain and bore similarities to the underlying neurochemical changes in traditional psychosis—like schizophrenia.The analysis, from synaptic regulation to mitochondrial function, revealed 96 expressed proteins in the PFC of methamphetamine-treated rats; 20% of these neural proteins had previously been associated with the neurobiology of schizophrenia in the PFC.Examining the proteome layout in the PFCs will allow scientists to gauge the damage done by genetic psychotic disorders or external abuse factors, like drugs and injuries. Understanding this means that future courses of treatment for schizophrenic patients could be improved.Our clinical physicians have a range of treatment options available for meth addicts struggling with addiction and withdrawal. Brain damage from Meth Abuse is not something to mess with.

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