Early Signal of Psychosis Development Discovered 0 8

Researchers at the National University of Singapore have found that young people at high risk of developing psychosis have brains that start functioning differently long before the first clinical signs appear. The study, published in Molecular Psychiatry (MP), showed that disruptions in connectivity between key areas of the brain—primarily in the frontal and temporal lobes—can be detected years before the potential onset of the disease.

The scientists used brain network analysis and found that in the high-risk group, neural networks process information less efficiently: local connections are weakened, and interactions between distant areas are hindered. Moreover, those who later developed psychosis exhibited these changes more strongly. Despite minimal symptoms at the time of examination, brain networks were already showing characteristic disruptions. The results are based on the analysis of over 3000 MRI scans from participants across 31 international centers.

The authors emphasize that psychosis is not a sudden condition but a prolonged biological process that can be detected through changes in brain architecture. Early diagnosis of such network disruptions may open a "window of opportunity" for intervention before the onset of the disease, improving prognosis and reducing risks for young people.