Core Findings - A new study led by the University of Zurich indicates that schizophrenia is associated with structural and functional changes in the central nervous system, including the retina, which may improve early detection and treatment of the disorder [1][2] - The retina, considered a "window" to the brain, shows that changes in the brain can be detected through the eyes. Previous research indicated that schizophrenia patients experience gray matter deficits and slight retinal atrophy [1] Research Methodology - The research team investigated the relationship between schizophrenia polygenic risk scores and retinal morphology in undiagnosed individuals. Higher polygenic risk scores were linked to overall thinning of the macula in the retina [1] - The study involved examining tens of thousands of healthy individuals, utilizing genetic scoring to assess their risk of developing schizophrenia, based on data from 34,939 British and Irish white participants from the UK Biobank [1] Implications for Detection and Treatment - The retinal changes can be detected through simple, non-invasive, and cost-effective eye measurements, using optical coherence tomography to measure retinal thickness in minutes [2] - Another significant finding relates to gene variations associated with neuroinflammatory processes. Higher polygenic risk scores for neuroinflammation correlate with thinner inner plexiform layers in ganglion cells, supporting the hypothesis that inflammation may promote disease progression [2] - If the inflammation hypothesis is validated, it suggests that medications could potentially interrupt the inflammatory processes, leading to improved treatment options for schizophrenia in the future [2]