People with schizophrenia left out of longevity revolution

"Since the 1970s, general mortality rates in developed countries have declined. On average, lifespans have lengthened by almost a decade. One demographic group that has not reflected this trend: persons with schizophrenia, whose life expectancy is 15 to 20 years shorter than the general population. The average life expectancy in developed countries increased from 72 years in 1970 to 1975 to 80 years in 2005 to 2010, according to the United Nations. Some nations are projected to reach an average life expectancy over 90 years by 2030. However, the gap in longevity between the overall population and persons with schizophrenia appears to be widening. Writing in the September 15 issue of the journal Schizophrenia Research, a team of researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System analyzed all eight published longitudinal studies of mortality in schizophrenia that met their strict research criteria and found that the mean standardized mortality ratio -- a measure of the mortality rate in schizophrenia -- had increased 37 percent from pre-1970s studies to post-1970s studies." Beside cancer that I had in my left lung and since had the lung removed.  I have a healthy life I exercise and I know and planning just in case it happens. I do not know if I will see any days after retirement.
The article goes on to say: "'There has long been a longevity gap between persons with schizophrenia and the general population," said co-senior author Dilip Jeste, MD, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Neurosciences and director of the Stein Institute for Research on Aging at UC San Diego School of Medicine. 'Much of it has been attributed to natural causes of death, such as cardiovascular disease, unhealthy lifestyles (persons with schizophrenia have a greater propensity to behaviors like smoking or eating poorly), inadequate access to health care and biological factors, such as accelerated cellular aging. A small proportion of individuals with schizophrenia die from suicides.'  The new study is the first systemic review of longitudinal trends in mortality among persons with schizophrenia, said Jeste. 'The reasons for the widening gap in longevity are not clear,' said Ellen Lee, MD, a research fellow at UC San Diego School of Medicine and first author of the paper. Schizophrenia mortality rates appeared to decrease from the mid-1950s to early 1970s, perhaps due to the development of antipsychotic drugs and deinstitutionalization of persons with serious mental illness -- a shift away from crowded psychiatric facilities to community-based treatments. But the subsequent, expansive closure of mental health facilities, fragmentation of outpatient health care services and growing difficulties in finding housing (increasing homelessness and incarceration rates) and support for persons with schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses have adversely impacted longevity.'" We are going through a housing crisis with rent be so high. It is just to expensive and I do get upset I changed my whole life went to college and this is not what I expected. Although I have grand kids now and I cannot give up.
The article ends: "'Persons with schizophrenia require comprehensive and regular physical monitoring and care to prevent and treat chronic age-related medical conditions. They are more vulnerable, for example, to obesity and diabetes,' said Jeste. The take-home message, he said, was that a significant segment of the population -- just over 1 percent or 3.2 million Americans -- are believed to suffer from some form of schizophrenia -- are not benefiting from new scientific advances, lifestyle changes or health care improvements enjoyed by others. 'These findings reflect on a persistent and pervasive stigma against mental illness and societal neglect of this vital yet vulnerable segment of the population, which continues to be disenfranchised,' the authors wrote. 'Work is urgently warranted to help reduce stigma, improve healthy lifestyles in a disseminable way and tailor primary care services to that person with serious mental illnesses are not left behind in the longevity revolution'" Yes. I had diabetes but I found walking made me lose weight and I have not had it in over five years.  I watch my weight maybe to much but I do not want to go back to taking metaformin. I do take cinnamon 1000mg every morning that helps with blood sugar also. I try my best to live  healthy lifestyle. I do not know how long I will live I just hope it is long enough to enjoy my new great grandson and my new granddaughter who I like to see get to grow up and enjoy.

'Little brain' plays a major role in schizophrenia

That is the title of this article I am reviewing today. "In a new study, Norwegian researchers have documented that the cerebellum is among the most affected brain regions in schizophrenia. Compared to healthy individuals, cerebellar volume was smaller in patients with schizophrenia. The study, published in Molecular Psychiatry, is the largest brain imaging study to date on the cerebellum in schizophrenia, with important implications for our understanding of the disorder. Although the cerebellum (latin for "little brain") occupies only about 20% of the human brain, it actually contains about 70% of all its neurons. This brain structure has traditionally been thought of as responsible for body movement and coordination, and has therefore often been ignored in research on the biological basis of psychological functions and mental disorders."I do know the neurons are important. I wonder why this part of the brain was ignored.
The article continues: "'The current study included brain scans from 2300 participants from 14 international sites. The researchers used sophisticated tools that allowed them to analyze both the volume and shape of the brain. Surprisingly, the results showed that the cerebellum is among the brain regions with the strongest and most consistent differences in schizophrenia. On a group level, patients had smaller cerebellar volumes compared with healthy individuals. 'These findings clearly show that the cerebellum plays a major role in schizophrenia,' says lead author Torgeir Moberget.'"Why shrinkage in people with schizophrenia? What all does it affect? Why and what are they finding out now.
The article ends:"'Most mental disorders emerge during childhood and adolescence, and a better understanding of the causes may give better patient care. 'To develop treatments that could reverse or even prevent the disease we need to understand why some people are at risk of developing these serious illnesses in the first place,' says senior author Lars T. Westlye. The large sets of data allowed the researchers to identify very nuanced differences in brain volume in patients when compared with healthy controls. 'It is important to emphasize that the brain differences we see in schizophrenia are generally very subtle. This is one reason why large collaborative studies are so important,' Moberget says. "When we saw the same pattern repeated across many groups of patients and controls from different countries, the findings became much more convincing.'"  I think they have to go deeper because as I have repeated all the time mine did not fully come on in childhood. It came on when I was twenty seven already.  Although in time of stress  like my marriage in came on in ways I did not understand. This illness and mine and my ex-wife lack of communication ended my marriage. I would like to know why and not just look back at my life and say if only.

Tiny “Minibrains” Could Revolutionize Medicine

That is the title of this article I reviewed today. "'Tell a person that some scientists are growing brains in a lab, and that person might be appalled at the implications of such an idea. However, these so-called 'minibrains' are a far cry from the organs we’re born with. These are tiny clusters of brain cells that mimic the human brain structure,  and they’re helping scientists better understand neurological diseases. Minibrains are grown in a lab from human skin cells that are manipulated to become neural stem cells. Those cells are then differentiated into various types of cells found in the human brain. Like full-sized brains, they form regions and communicate with one another even though they are barely big enough to see with the human eye. At a meeting of the Society of Neurosciencee in San Diego last week, minibrains were a hot topic. Scientists have showcased their potential for the study of neurological disorders like autism and schizophrenia, as well as neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson's disease.'" This if they really can tell what happen to  a person when they get this disease and how. They would be able to tell when and how the brain changed for the worse.
The article continues: "Lab-grown brain tissue — a minibrain — infected by Zika virus (white) with neural stem cells in red and neuronal nuclei in green. Courtesy of Xuyu Qian and Guo-li Ming

One team of researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore shared how they used minibrains for Zika research. Because the Zika virus attacks the embryonic brain and minibrains resemble a brain that’s in its early stages of development, they proved particularly well- suited for this kind of study. The researchers ultimately discovered how Zika turns the developing brain cells of an embryo into a viral factory, leading to cellular death and smaller brain cells." I do really think they are on to something here they can put in things to see how they affect the brain.  What age this all happens to a person.
The article ends: "'Better Understanding of The Human Brain Dr. Thomas Hartung, a researcher and experimental toxicologist at Johns Hopkins, told NPR  that the minibrains’ greatest potential lies in the testing of new drugs for various brain diseases. He explains that animal testing provides misleading results since they are not the same as human brains. 'We need human systems to tell us about humans, and that’s why this is such a big step forward,' says Hartung. Minibrains have been made berfore by various researchers for other purposes, but the showcasing of this method at a meeting of the Society of Neuroscience shows that researchers are taking it seriously as a better platform to study the brain. In the future, these lab-made clusters of cells could put us on the path to finding cures for all sorts of brain disorders." If not a cure yes better medication something you do not have to take with food.  That puts you to sleep just to take your medication.  Yes if not understanding how and why these diseases happen to a person better treatments.

CMHIP closes treatment program over staffing

That is the name of this article I reviewed today. "'A 20-bed program that treats patients for both drug addiction and mental illness is being closed at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo so its nursing staff can be used elsewhere in the hospital, state officials confirmed Tuesday. They called it a temporary closure. That’s not how it was described to patients. 'My son waited for seven months in jail to get in the CIRCLE program because a judge said us it was the gold standard,' a Western Slope woman told The Pueblo Chieftain. 'He finally got a bed on May 30 and now we’re told the program is closed and we don’t know what his status is.'" In 1992 it was the best drug and alcohol program in the state and I guess it still is. When they moved me in the state hospital to ward 69 the first day I asked to go to the CIRCLE program because I knew that I would need that to get out.  The first day I was there I was wrote up for walking on the carpet early in the morning to use the phone to tell my people that I was there.  The second day there I was put in charge I had the keys to let everyone get there towels for showering. It is  a strict program that includes cleaning the shower after use getting up ant six in the morning and having your clean and inspected.

The article goes on to say: "'The CIRCLE program is a 90-day residential program and it is rare because it treats people suffering from both addiction and mental illness. 'This is a terrific program,' said a young woman patient who called the newspaper. 'I don’t know how they think the 19 staff members of this program are going to fix the staff shortage at this hospital. They’re moving us out of here.' The state Department of Human Services, which oversees CMHIP, said all the patients are being transferred to other programs. They said the shutdown was temporary and caused by a staffing shortage elsewhere in the hospital. 'This is a temporary measure and the transition specialists and community partners in the region are working very closely to ensure that every patient is transitioned into a program that provides treatment for their needs,' the statement said. The Western Slope woman whose son just got in the treatment plan was frustrated by that. 'From what we understand, there isn’t any other suitable program for people like my son,' she said. 'We were waiting for this one.' She acknowledged he’d failed other treatment programs, largely because of his mental health issues.'" Another thing I had to do because I was from the state hospital if I seen any of my friends on the campus I was not allowed to talk to them.  Also mainly I remember that if you told war stories you could get written up. I remember one guy getting written up for this. It is because you get to telling about your drug days and you start wanting to use. Closing this program for even a little while is not right.  I do know someone while I was there using and you can tell my me just handing out towels she would get the towels and not shower.  The found all the towels in her drawer she never showered.

The article ends: "'Staff who work in the program were upset Tuesday. 'We have 110 people on waiting lists to get treatment here,' one staffer said. 'We’re in the process of trying to find places for these patients to go but there really isn’t anyplace like this.  'Callers to the newspaper said no staff are losing jobs. Just being reassigned. 'This isn’t a new problem,' said Sen. Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo, who checked on the status of the program Tuesday. 'The staffing problem at CMHIP is well-known. It is competing for the same (medical staff) that Parkview and St. Mary-Corwin (medical centers) are trying to recruit.' Garcia said officials told him Tuesday the closure was temporary, but didn’t say when it would reopen.'" When I was there it was the main job for people in Pueblo. My counselor from the ward I had just got transferred from his wife worked at the circle program. Callers to the newspaper said no staff are losing jobs. Just being reassigned.

'This isn’t a new problem,' said Sen. Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo, who checked on the status of the program Tuesday. “The staffing problem at CMHIP is well-known. It is competing for the same (medical staff) that Parkview and St. Mary-Corwin (medical centers) are trying to recruit.”
Garcia said officials told him Tuesday the closure was temporary, but didn’t say when it would reopen. By me asking to go there I was treated better because to want to change yourself is good. The only thing I did not like were all the videos we had to watch about our inner child. My inner child was not damaged and I did not understand that I  had a good childhood.  I was always quiet and did have friends.  I forgot the person who made those videos but I did not like him at that time. I did not have to do the whole ninety days because like I said I was a leader there. The liked me so much the are the ones who got me social security the doctor there wrote for me to get it when I was released. The waiting list is long it is the best program in the state of Colorado. By closing it. It will hurt a lot of people.

Research Links Genomic Pathway to Schizophrenia for First Time

That is the title of this article I reviewed today. "'The skin cells of four adults with schizophrenia have provided an unprecedented 'window' into how the disease began while they were still in the womb, according to a paper published in Schizophrenia Research. Related Profile Senior author Michael K. Stachowiak. PhD.  and fellow researchers say the work is a first step toward the design of treatments that could be administered to pregnant mothers at high risk for bearing a child with schizophrenia, potentially preventing the disease before it begins. Obtaining View of Schizophrenia’s Development 'In the last 10 years, genetic investigations into schizophrenia have been plagued by an ever-increasing number of mutations found in patients with the disease,' says Stachowiak, professor of pathology and anatomical sciences.'" This is good for people not getting the disease in the first place.  Although people like me will never find out how and why this disease happened to me.
The article goes on to say: "'We show for the first time that there is, indeed, a common, dysregulated gene pathway at work here,' he says.  The authors gained insight into the early brain pathology of schizophrenia by using skin cells — from four adults with schizophrenia and four adults without the disease — that were reprogrammed back into induced pluripotent stem cells and then into neuronal progenitor cells. 'By studying induced pluripotent stem cells developed from different patients, we recreated the process that takes place during early brain development in utero, thus obtaining an unprecedented view of how this disease develops,' says Stachowiak. 'This work gives us an unprecedented insight into those processes.' Building On Previous Research The research provides what Stachowiak calls proof of concept for the hypothesis he and his colleagues published in 2013. They proposed that a single genomic pathway, called the Integrative Nuclear FGFR1 Signaling (INFS), is a central intersection point for multiple pathways involving more than 100 genes believed to be involved in schizophrenia. 'This research shows that there is a common dysregulated gene program that may be impacting more than 1,000 genes and that the great majority of those genes are targeted by the dysregulated nuclear FGFR1,' Stachowiak says. When even one of the many schizophrenia-linked genes undergoes mutation, by affecting the INFS it throws off the development of the brain as a whole, similar to the way that an entire orchestra can be affected by a musician playing just one wrong note, he says.'" The reason I say I will never find out is because this study is for people who have schizophrenia when they are young mine did not come until I was twenty seven. Although I had it not fully but a little that caused my marriage to fail.  It ruin the lives of two people me and my ex-wife. I loved her but I had to end my marriage because I thought whatever was wrong with me would cause me to her or my stepson my daughter was about to be born. Even though I am doing good now what could I have achieved if this disease would not of affected me.  So are they saying just a little went wrong with me.
The article ends: " Next Step: Growing Cerebral Organoids The next step in the research is to use these induced pluripotent stem cells to further study how the genome becomes dysregulated, allowing the disease to develop. 'We will utilize this strategy to grow cerebral organoids — mini-brains in a sense — to determine how this genomic dysregulation affects early brain development and to test potential preventive or corrective treatments,' he says. UB Collaborates with Icahn School of Medicine'" It's just before I die I would like to know what caused this and yes it did lead to the suicide of my ex-wife because I knew her dreams and what she wanted out of life. By us ending our marriage it killed her dreams and  mine. Some times I get angry and what has happened to me and if my grand kids ever had this disease from me it would kill me. Because this disease was not in my family before me. I am different no matter what circumstance you put me in I will succeed because my mom taught me early how to read and become smarter. I'd go on but I do not tell people how to succeed because I tried that and people told me they do not have the time it takes to make your self better. So I stay away and do what I know.

Blood Test Might Someday Distinguish Early Depression, Schizophrenia

That is the title of this article I reviewed today. "'TUESDAY, March 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- It's often difficult for doctors to tell the difference between depression and schizophrenia, especially early on. Now, researchers say they're on the trail of a blood test that might be able to do just that.
'This is the first objective, physiological marker for two major psychiatric disorders that, once fully developed into a clinical test, can allow for earlier and more accurate diagnosis, and selection of more appropriate medications for patients,' study co-author Dr. Handan Gunduz-Bruce said in a news release from The Physiological Society. Gunduz-Bruce is a schizophrenia researcher at the Yale School of Medicine. One psychiatrist agreed that such a test is needed. "It can be very difficult to diagnose depression and schizophrenia, especially when they onset in the adolescent years," said Dr. Scott Krakower, assistant chief of psychiatry at Zucker Hillside Hospital in Glen Oaks, N.Y.
'Symptoms may not be as clear and the patient may not exhibit all symptoms of the disease,' Krakower added. He believes an early diagnostic test 'may help us one day quickly diagnose complex cases and offer earlier intervention for our patients.' According to the Yale team, animal research had already shown that the release of a hormone called arginine-vasopressin (AVP) relies on a cellular process known as NMDA receptor signaling.'" This would be welcome news.  When I first had my breakdown in prison in 1987 they sent me to a psychiatrist at first he was going to diagnosis me with a mental illness then he changed his mind and put me on Halcyon a sleeping medicine that helped a little but underneath I still had the mental illness but did not know what was wrong with me. The counselor there was not ever going to release me on parole because she said I was a danger to society. That at the time I did not understand and just ignored her because I was going to get out on appeal once it came through.
The article continues: "NMDA is a brain cell receptor for glutamate -- a chemical that delivers messages between brain cells and may play a role in depression. NMDA receptor signaling appears to be increased in people with depression but reduced in those with schizophrenia, the study authors explained. For the study, the research team gave volunteers a highly concentrated salt solution. This solution is designed to trigger the release of AVP. The researchers then tested each patients' blood for AVP. The researchers found that AVP release among those with depression was different from those with schizophrenia. Depressed patients had a greater release of the hormone, while people with schizophrenia had a decreased production. According to the researchers, the findings could lead to a test that might help identify certain forms of depression and schizophrenia." Yes because if they would have diagnosis me in the first place I might have never went to the state hospital. Although if I did not go there I do not know if I would have succeed as I have.
The article ends: "'Since the two conditions often have vague and mild symptoms early on, such a test might enable patients to be diagnosed sooner and receive more appropriate treatment, the researchers said. Still, that day may be a long way off -- the researchers said they haven't yet developed a test that could be used outside of their lab. Dr. Ami Baxi directs inpatient psychiatry at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. She agreed with Krakower that 'although this method will not capture everybody with depression or schizophrenia, it is a step towards earlier and more accurate diagnosis with potential for targeted treatment options.'" It cannot come soon enough so people can recover and get on and lead productive lives.

Colorado will no longer lock up people who are suicidal or in mental health crisis

That is the title of this article I reviewed today. "It soon will be against the law in Colorado to lock people in jail when they are picked up on mental health holds. The legislation signed by Gov. John Hickenlooper on Thursday also increases funds for a network of crisis-response teams, walk-in mental health treatment centers and transportation to treatment from rural areas. The legislation, which takes effect Aug. 9, was passed in combination with a state human services department budget request to spend $9.5 million in marijuana tax funds, which will pay for two-person mobile crisis teams to intervene in mental health-related police calls, among other new services." Why am writing about Colorado is because I was in jail when I had my breakdown for committing a crime while I was mentally ill. When I first arrived at the jail they had me visit a psychiatrist she took an immediate dislike to me. She told me she did not like me and would not put me on medication. I went back to the cell block six and  for the first time in all the time I did in prison and the county jail I got into a fight. They put me in the infirmary and I did about four months there. I never ordered commissary all the time I was locked up I had money but I thought the jail was trying to get my signature and would not sign for my commissary.  I did not buy cigarettes until I was at the state hospital and on medication. Usually when you go to jail your actually go to the commissary and purchase without your signature. Although because I was in that fight I never went back to general population. When I was at the state hospital I tried to get out and had to meet the board and who was on the board but that psychiatrist and she went out of the room I did not bring up what she did to me because I wanted out. I did not get out.
The article continues: "'Colorado had been one of only six states that allowed putting people who are suicidal or having mental health episodes behind bars. The law, Senate Bill 17-207, bans the use of jails to house people who are a 'danger to themselves or others' but have not committed any crime.
'This bill is a huge step toward removing the stigma associated with mental health crises,' one of the legislation’s sponsors, Sen. John Cooke, R-Greeley, said in an emailed statement. 'We want people to know that a crisis is not a crime, and that they can get the help they need in times of emergency.'" Why do I feel this is a good idea and practice is because it is hard if you are insane and in jail. I did not get out of the state hospital that time and I said to myself the only way I will get out is myself so I asked to go to the circle program at the time it was the best drug and alcohol treatment center in Colorado. After I did three months there I did about six more months and they release me on conditional release that was five year of UAs and other hoops to get off.
The article ends: "Current state law allows for detainment in a jail for up to 24 hours for a person on a mental health hold. Within a day, the person must go to a health facility for evaluation and treatment, but in rural areas, the nearest mental health center often is hours away. The situation leaves sheriff’s departments with three options: driving the person to another town and leaving the community with one fewer law officer; holding the person in jail; or releasing the person back to the community." I was respected though in jail when I came back to Denver to ask the Judge to release me and I was on medication they other inmates did not mess with me this time because they found out I was from the state hospital and did not mess with me or my things in fact I was on the phone and a guy who stole some cigarettes from me gave them back when I was on the phone and said he was sorry so there is a lot that goes on in jail considering mental illness.