Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026
07:13
Induction of Maternal Immune Activation in Mice at Mid-gestation Stage with Viral Mimic Poly(I:C)
Published on: March 25, 2016
Maternal infection and schizophrenia: implications for prevention
Alan S Brown1, Paul H Patterson
1Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, NewYork, NY 10032, USA. asb11@columbia.edu
Schizophrenia Bulletin
|December 8, 2010
Summary
Maternal infections like influenza and toxoplasmosis are linked to schizophrenia in offspring. Preventing these infections may offer a scalable strategy to reduce schizophrenia incidence.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Growing evidence links maternal infections to an increased risk of schizophrenia in offspring.
- Specific infections such as influenza, toxoplasmosis, and genital infections have been associated with schizophrenia.
- Preclinical models support the neurobiological mechanisms connecting maternal immune activation to schizophrenia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential of infection control as a preventive strategy for schizophrenia.
- To examine influenza, toxoplasmosis, and genital infections as examples for schizophrenia prevention.
- To review lessons learned from public health interventions for infection control.
Main Methods:
- Review of prospective epidemiological studies on maternal infections and schizophrenia risk.
- Analysis of preclinical models of maternal immune activation.
- Examination of public health strategies for infection prevention and control.
Main Results:
- Epidemiological data consistently associate certain maternal infections with higher schizophrenia incidence.
- Preclinical studies provide neurobiological support for these associations.
- Effective and scalable interventions exist to reduce the occurrence of these infections.
Conclusions:
- Control of maternal infections presents a promising avenue for schizophrenia prevention.
- Public health interventions targeting common infections could significantly impact schizophrenia rates.
- Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of various prevention measures is crucial for implementation.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
01:29Biological Causes of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a severe psychiatric disorder, arises from a complex interplay of biological factors, including genetic predisposition, structural brain abnormalities, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and developmental irregularities. These factors collectively contribute to the onset and progression of the disorder, which typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
01:27Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins are rooted in complex genetic components. Despite our burgeoning understanding, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely deciphered.
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within the...
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within the...
01:17Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a term introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1911, describes a severe psychological disorder marked by profound disruptions in attention, thought processes, language, emotion, and interpersonal relationships. The core feature of schizophrenia is psychosis — a state characterized by a fundamental detachment from reality. This disconnection manifests through distorted logic, impaired perception, and atypical behavior, severely affecting the lives of those diagnosed.
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota
The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
01:29Malaria
Malaria pathogenesis in humans reflects a delicate interplay between parasite biology and host response. Clinical illness reflects a host’s immune response to the parasite’s asexual replication cycle, which is often asymptomatic in individuals with partial immunity. From the parasite's perspective, transmission between mosquito and human with minimal host pathology is evolutionarily advantageous. Among the six Plasmodium species infecting humans, P. falciparum and P. vivax dominate in global...