Cognitive Deficit in Schizophrenia: From Etiology to Novel Treatments

• Main Authors: Antón L. Martínez, José Brea, Sara Rico, María Teresa de los Frailes, María Isabel Loza
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-09-01
• Series: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
• Subjects: schizophrenia; cognitive deficit; antipsychotics; pharmacology; mechanisms of action
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/18/9905

Schizophrenia is a major mental illness characterized by positive and negative symptoms, and by cognitive deficit. Although cognitive impairment is disabling for patients, it has been largely neglected in the treatment of schizophrenia. There are several reasons for this lack of treatments for cognitive deficit, but the complexity of its etiology—in which neuroanatomic, biochemical and genetic factors concur—has contributed to the lack of effective treatments. In the last few years, there have been several attempts to develop novel drugs for the treatment of cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. Despite these efforts, little progress has been made. The latest findings point to the importance of developing personalized treatments for schizophrenia which enhance neuroplasticity, and of combining pharmacological treatments with non-pharmacological measures.