Subjective Overview of Accelerated Aging in Schizophrenia

Abstract

Schizophrenia, like many other human diseases, particularly neuropsychiatric diseases, shows evidence of accelerated brain aging. The molecular nature of the process of aging is unknown but several potential indicators have been used in research. The concept of accelerated aging in schizophrenia took hold in 2008 and its timing, pace, determinants and deterrents have been increasingly examined since. The present overview of the field is brief and selective, based on diverse studies, expert opinions and successive reviews. Current thinking is that the timing of age acceleration in schizophrenia can occur at different time periods of the lifespan in different individuals, and that antipsychotics may be preventive. The majority opinion is that the cognitive decline and premature death often seen in schizophrenia are, in principle, preventable.