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Rachel G. H. Brans, Neeltje E. M. van Haren, G. Caroline M. van Baal, Wouter G. Staal, Hugo G. Schnack, René S. Kahn, and Hilleke E. Hulshoff Pol
Longitudinal MRI study in schizophrenia patients and their healthy siblings
The British Journal of Psychiatry 2008; 193: 422-423 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]
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[Read eLetter] This could be due to low DHEA.
James M. Howard   (27 November 2008)

This could be due to low DHEA. 27 November 2008
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James M. Howard,
biologist
independent

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Re: This could be due to low DHEA.

jmhoward{at}anthropogeny.com James M. Howard

It is my hypothesis that schizophrenia is caused by low DHEA in utero. This results in poor brain development. Later in life, cortisol and testosterone act to reduce the effects of low DHEA and adversely affect brain function. DHEA naturally begins to decline in the early twenties. This is why schizophrenia often occurs in the late teens / early twenties (puberty and loss of DHEA) and is often triggered by a stressful event (cortisol). Therefore, at this time, brain growth and development is inhibited and, in the case of cortisol, may be reduced. I suggest this reduces prefrontal function and increases lower brain function, the seat of hallucinations. It is known that DHEA is low in schizophrenia and that DHEA acts positively in neuron growth and function.

I suggest the foregoing may explain the decline in brain volume and function in schizophrenia.