The results from a huge gene-focused research effort have suggested that schizophrenia could be associated with a gene that instructs the immune system to destroy too many connections in the brain.

Harvard University and the Broad Institute scientists analyzed the genomes of 64,785 people worldwide and discovered that the one suffering from the debilitating psychiatric disease has quite more chances of possessing mutations of a common gene, as per the results appeared in the journal Nature on Wednesday.

Over 21 million people suffer with schizophrenia worldwide, and tend to have less gray matter and lesser connections in their brain as compared to healthy peers.

However, scientists aren’t sure about the reason why. The research, first time ever, has suggested that variations in a gene known as complement component 4, or C4, might be significant. Previously, the gene was known to help the immune system in targeting infections.

A mutant type of the gene creates proteins that tag high number of brain synapses for destruction. The explanation has neatly meshed with schizophrenia’s tendency to arise at the time of adolescence, the phase when even healthy brains are engages in pruning lots of connections.

Presently, the treatment of schizophrenia patients is carried out with antipsychotics, which can be helpful in cutting some symptoms but don't deal with the underlying disease or its liked cognitive impairment.
However, the recognition of a main genetic factor could be helpful in the search for therapies. Certainly, the path from a gene to an efficient drug is long and uncertain.

Neuroscientist Beth Stevens is among the authors on the latest paper. Stevens is an associate professor of neurology at Harvard and was awarded a MacArthur Foundation ‘genius grant’ in 2015.