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Glutamate in schizophrenia: clinical and research implications
1Psychotic Disorders Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA. goff@psych.mgh.harvard.edu
Schizophrenia Research
|January 7, 1998
Summary
Excitatory amino acids like glutamate are implicated in schizophrenia research. Targeting NMDA receptors shows potential for treating schizophrenia symptoms, especially in geriatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Excitatory amino acids, glutamate and aspartate, play key roles in neurodevelopment, neurotoxicity, and neurotransmission.
- Alterations in glutamatergic receptor densities and subunit ratios are observed in schizophrenia, but their primary or compensatory nature remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of excitatory amino acids, particularly glutamate, in schizophrenia research.
- To investigate the potential of targeting NMDA receptors for schizophrenia treatment and understand implications for geriatric populations.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent evidence on glutamatergic systems in schizophrenia.
- Analysis of agents acting on NMDA receptor sites (phencyclidine and glycine).
- Consideration of clozapine's effects on glutamatergic systems.
Main Results:
- NMDA receptor antagonists (e.g., phencyclidine) can induce schizophrenia-like symptoms.
- Glycine site agonists show promise for improving negative symptoms.
- Clozapine may exhibit distinct effects on glutamatergic systems compared to conventional antipsychotics.
Conclusions:
- The NMDA receptor model offers potential clinical implications for schizophrenia treatment.
- Geriatric patients may face heightened risk from glutamate-mediated neurotoxicity, warranting further investigation in schizophrenia contexts.