Does schizophrenia cause brain damage

Question

I read this somewhere and now I am really worried I may have brain damage. I have suffered with schizophrenia and did not even know I could have brain damage. I also read the brain deteriorates over a period of time with this illness and that schizophrenia leads to dementia and Alzheimer's. I am so worried. I think I am quite normal now and I am so concerned about my future. Please help.

Answer 1

I know of no connection between dementia/Alzheimer's and schizophrenia. Neither of the two share common mechanisms, Alzheimer's involves the accumulation of amyloid plaques in the brain, and perhaps the disruption of brain metabolism associated with schizophrenia could interfere with the processes that clean up these plaques - but I don't know that it's ever been studied.

Again there is some 'mild' brain degeneration in schizophrenia, associated with the enlarged ventricles(cavities that brain fluid circulates through). The role of neuron death and degeneration in schizophrenia is open to quite a bit of debate right now. It does not appear to be a major role.

People with schizophrenia do get regular dementia, and do get Alzheimer's and this can be problematic to treat, but no study I'm aware of has indicated that schizophrenics get Alzheimer's more often - nor has any professor or doctor I've been taught by has mentioned such a thing, including one who's primary clinical practice involves managing schizophrenics, Alzheimer's patients and head trauma patients.

It is worth noting that untreated schizophrenics do tend to do things that put them at risk for aforementioned head trauma. I wouldn't worry, and if Yahoo answers doesn't help especially(and it  probably shouldn't) then talk to your therapist/psychiatrist/doctor, they'll probably be far more up to date on the most recent info.

Answer 2

Brain damage causes Schizophrenia, but not all kinds of.

For be sure you have to get brain pictures (not sure how to spell it in english) where shows if there is some brain damage there that cause the ill.

Sometimes Schizophrenia is because bad childhood, stress or another psychological reasons. If that´s why there is not possible it damages brain.

]The damages at intelectual funtions (memory, behaviour, lenguaje) is because the person experiments world different and it makes the person get tired because the illness and the stress it makes.

All this dobouts ask to your doctor and do not leave the medication and theraphy.

Answer 3

In a shizophrenic person as with any mental illness it means a part of the brain usually the frontal lobe does not work properly. We have a milli second between thinking a thought and speaking the thought. In a schizophrenic that milli second loses a beat and the thought stays but is not spoken so the sufferer thinks they are hearing voices, which they are their own voice, but they perceive it as belonging to someone else. There is absolutely no proof that shizophrenia causes dementia as demetia is thought to be genetic as it is too a disease of the brain. It is true that a brain that is schizophrenic does deteriorate over the years but it happens so slowly the truth is you may never know.

Answer 4

it is brain damage

Answer 5

It is a progressive illness, and these worsen, over time, especially without effective treatment. There are observable differences between the brains of schizophrenics and so called "normal people".

By using the supplements, vitamins & minerals shown in section 40, at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris you can minimise the deterioration to your brain, and possibly reduce, or in some cases, even eliminate the need for medication, with its attendant risks & side effects.

Eat in accordance with your * "nutritional type": www.mercola.com * SEARCHBAR ( also "alzheimer's" * then view section 29, at ezy build).

Answer 6

no