Year: 2026
Type: review
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: Introduction: Schizophrenia's now linked to immune system problems, especially inflammation.This review examines research from 2018 to 2025 on the potential use of these pro-inflammatory cytokines as biomarkers for schizophrenia, with a focus on their role in the onset, progression, symptom presentation, and treatment response of the illness.Results: Higher levels of certain cytokines have been found in people with different stages of schizophrenia.These cytokines lead to ongoing inflammation in the body and brain, nerve cell damage, and problems with brain chemicals.These are linked to cognitive impairment and poorer health outcomes.Additionally, gender-based differences affect cytokine levels and treatment efficacy.Studies show that cytokine levels can indicate current and long-term illness.Checking cytokine levels in medical care could facilitate early diagnosis, inform prognosis, and enable the development of personalised treatment plans that address brain inflammation.Conclusion: Pro-inflammatory cytokines are key indicators that can help to explain the link between the immune system and the brain in schizophrenia.They can also guide more personalised treatment.Research should aim to make tests more consistent.It should involve studying how these cytokines function to improve patient care.
Source: Medical Science
Language: English
Subfield: Biological Psychiatry
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7204989464