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Elevated prenatal homocysteine levels as a risk factor for schizophrenia
Alan S Brown1, Teodoro Bottiglieri, Catherine A Schaefer
1College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, USA. asb11@columbia.edu
Archives of General Psychiatry
|January 3, 2007
Summary
Elevated prenatal homocysteine levels in the third trimester are linked to a significantly increased risk of developing schizophrenia in adulthood. This finding suggests homocysteine may be a preventable risk factor for schizophrenia.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Obstetrics
Background:
- Elevated prenatal homocysteine is a potential risk factor for schizophrenia.
- Homocysteine may affect N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and placental function.
- Pregnancy complications are associated with homocysteine levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between elevated maternal homocysteine levels in the third trimester and the risk of adult schizophrenia.
Main Methods:
- Nested case-control study within a large birth cohort (1959-1967).
- Schizophrenia cases (n=63) and matched controls (n=122) were identified.
- Maternal serum homocysteine levels were measured from archived samples.
Main Results:
- Elevated third-trimester homocysteine levels showed a statistically significant association with increased schizophrenia risk.
- An elevated homocysteine level was associated with a greater than 2-fold increase in risk (OR, 2.39; P = .02).
Conclusions:
- Third-trimester maternal homocysteine elevation may be a risk factor for schizophrenia.
- Potential mechanisms include developmental brain effects or placental vascular damage.
- Folic acid supplementation warrants evaluation for schizophrenia prevention if causality is confirmed.
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