A new study has found a link between malfunctions in the brain's waste removal system, called the glymphatic system, and an increased risk of psychosis. The research focused on individuals with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, a genetic condition that raises the likelihood of psychotic disorders like schizophrenia.
Participants, aged 5 to 35, were scanned over 25 years. Those with 22q11DS showed impaired brain clearance early on, and those who later developed psychosis had less-developed glymphatic systems.
The researchers used an index called ALPS to measure water movement in the brain's plumbing channels. Poor flow can lead to waste buildup, causing inflammation and cell damage, which may contribute to psychosis.
They also found imbalances in excitatory and inhibitory brain signals, with excessive excitation potentially damaging vulnerable areas like the hippocampus.
"This atypical trajectory suggests a vulnerability from biological and environmental factors before symptoms appear," said psychiatrist Alessandro Pascucci.