Identification of neurons involved in schizophrenia

Abstract

Brain cell types associated with schizophrenia have been identified in a new analysis. The researchers combined data from the largest genome-wide association study of schizophrenia with single-nucleus RNA sequencing data for the human brain, which enabled them to map the genetic risk to specific cell types. The analysis identified 109 cell types, encompassing a variety of cortical and subcortical neurons. The same approach showed that adaptive immune cells are involved in multiple sclerosis and microglia in Alzheimer disease, demonstrating the reliability of the technique.