Rianne Stowell News Today

A study showed that adolescence is the best time to treat conditions such as schizophrenia and autism, both characterized by dysfunctioning of the dopamine system.

Targeting and stimulating underperforming neurons in the dopamine system and increasing its activity in young adulthood could help treat neuropsychiatric disorders like schizophrenia and autism with long-lasting effects, according to a new study.

New finding in mice are a step closer to finding a possible target for treating neuropsychiatric disorders in young adulthood.

Neuroscience are getting closer to identifying a potential target for treating neuropsychiatric illnesses like schizophrenia and autism at this critical period of development

Get latest articles and stories on Health at LatestLY. The brain undergoes continual change throughout development and adolescence. Early adulthood is a common time for the onset of neuropsychiatric disorders like schizophrenia. The dopamine system, which is necessary for thinking clearly and making decisions, starts to malfunction at this stage of development. Health News | Study Identifies Potential Targets for Treatment of Neuropsychiatric Diseases in Teens.

In previous studies, the research team had found this specific arm of the dopamine system to be flexible in adolescents but not in adults

If we can target the right windows in development and understand the signals at play, we can develop treatments that change the course of these brain disorders.

The study states a potential target for treating neuropsychiatric illnesses like schizophrenia and autism at this critical period of development, which might influence brain circuitry throughout adulthood. 

The brain undergoes continual change throughout development and adolescence

Throughout development and adolescence, the brain is constantly changing