MIT Links grin2a Gene to Schizophrenia

Massachusetts Institute of Technology neuroscientists have identified a gene mutation, grin2a, that impairs a brain circuit responsible for updating beliefs, a key symptom of schizophrenia. The study, published in Alto Neuroscience, used mouse models to demonstrate how this mutation affects adaptive decision-making and found that targeting the mediodorsal thalamus, a part of the thalamocortical circuit, could reverse behavioral symptoms. This discovery provides a potential druggable target for treating cognitive impairments in schizophrenia patients, even though the grin2a mutation is present in only a small percentage of patients, suggesting a converging mechanism for various causes of the disease. The research was funded by several institutions including the United States — National Institute of Mental Health and the Broad Institute.