KYN Pathway & KYNA

The KYN pathway is a metabolic pathway

that produces the essential amino acid
KYNA. The KYN pathway divides into
two different pathways that produce
different amino acids and effect different
parts of the brain. The two pathways
either affect schizophrenia or depression.
This pathway has a huge impact on
individual behavior and cognitive
impairments present in patients with
schizophrenia. KYN acid is an important
metabolic amino acid produced in the
KYN pathway that has been linked to
cognitive and psychotic symptoms; it is a
product of tryptophan, an important
metabolite. The scientific community is
currently trying to draw a relationship
between stress, sleep deprivation, and
schizophrenia. The idea is that an increase
in KYN acid causes patients with
schizophrenia to suffer from an increase
in sleep deprivation and stress, which in
turn has a direct effect on cognitive
impairments. The cognitive impairments
are directly affected by an increase in
KYN acid because of its metabolic
properties. Because KYN acid is an
essential amino acid and a metabolite, the
idea is that the increase over activates the
neurons, receptors, and chemistry in the
brain which stimulates an increase in
stress and therefore a worsening of
cognitive impairments.

MyResearch
Hypothesis: Could an increase in stress in
patients with schizophrenia lead to an
increase in KYNA, which in turn causes a
worsening in cognitive impairments?
Purpose: The scientific community still
does not know what causes schizophrenia.
Individuals who suffer from schizophrenia
are unable to perform daily functions such
as learning and memorizing information.
By figuring out what causes these
cognitive symptoms to worse, the
scientific community can begin to produce
more effective treatment options. The idea
behind these experiments is that the more
the scientific community can learn about
schizophrenia, the closer they are to
finding a cure.
Results: There is definitely enough
evidence to suggest that there is a
correlation between an increase in KYNA
and a worsening in cognitive impairments
in rats that were prenatally exposed to an
increase in KYNA. This suggests that not
only does an increase in KYNA effect
cognitive symptoms, but that something
occurs in the embryo that increases
KYNA and disrupts future development.

Treating Schizophrenia

A Deeper Look
into Schizophrenia

An informative pamphlet that

discusses the studies that are being
conducted at the MPRC, as well as
information concerning schizophrenia,
treatment options, and the importance
of spreading awareness.

Contact Me!
Carly Fabian
Marriotts Ridge High School
Intern Mentor G/T
Teacher: Eckert

Grade: Senior
E-mail: c.fabian231@gmail.com

http://psychcentral.com/lib/wpcontent/uploads/2014/02/schizophrenia-bigst.jpg

Carly Fabian
Marriotts Ridge High School

Introduction

Importance of Awareness

Over 40 million people each year commit

suicide. At least 90% of the people that
commit suicide suffer from mental illnesses
like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Each
year over 1.5 million people will be diagnosed
with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a brain
disorder that distorts and individuals thought
processes, emotions, brain functions, daily
functions, and perception of reality. Currently,
the scientific community does not fully
understand what causes schizophrenic
symptoms. Recent studies have shown that an
increase in the metabolic acid, kynurenic acid,
might have a direct relationship to a worsening
of cognitive impairments in patients suffering
from Schizophrenia.

According to NAMI, Over 2.2 million Americans

will develop schizophrenia each year (NAMI). A
significant part of the population suffers from
schizophrenia, but not a lot of research or
education has been dedicated to the study of
schizophrenia, Schizophrenia has only received a
small fraction of the amount of medical research
dollars that go into other serious diseases and
disorders (SARDAA). Because schizophrenia is
not studied as much as other illnesses, the
treatment options available for patients with
schizophrenia are not the safest or most effective.
Most patients with schizophrenia are put on
psychotic medication that mainly treats physical
symptoms, or are hospitalized frequently. Most of
the medication and other treatment options
available do not focus on all the symptoms that
accompany schizophrenia, which inhibits patients
ability to function normally. Schizophrenia is a
very serious mental illness that, when not properly
treated, claims hundreds of lives each year.

What Is Schizophrenia?
What is schizophrenia? Schizophrenia is
defined as a severe brain disorder in which
people interpret reality abnormally (ADAA).
Schizophrenia has a lot of distinct
characteristics. Unlike a lot of other mental
illnesses, schizophrenia usually stays dormant
until the individual is around his or her early
20s or late/mid 30s and is more prominent in
men than in women. There are several
different symptoms that are associated with
schizophrenia. Positive symptoms; which
include hallucinations and delusions, negative
symptoms; which include dullness and
depression-like symptoms, and cognitive
impairments; which include inability to focus,
problems learning and memorizing.

http://img.webmd.com/dtmcms/live/webmd/consumer_assets/site_images/ar
ticles/health_tools/schizophrenia_overview_slideshow/webmd_rf_photo_of_
mri_brain_scans.jpg

Treatment Options
There are several different types of treatments
that are used to treat schizophrenia. It is
recommended that patients who suffer from
schizophrenia use a blend of several different
options of treatment, as seen in figure 3. This is
mainly suggested because schizophrenia is such
a complex illness that effects several different
parts of the brain and body. By using more than
one treatment option, the individual is able to
better target and focus on different symptoms.
Most individuals who suffer from schizophrenia
have one of the several different kinds of
therapy. The most popular form of therapy is
cognitive therapy which, according to SCADDA,
involves regular sessions between the patient
and a therapist focused on past or current
problems, thoughts, feelings, or relationships
(SARDAA). In addition to therapy, antipsychotics are prescribed to individuals who
suffer from schizophrenia. Anti-psychotics are a
form of medication that treats psychosis, which
is defined as conditions that affect the mind,
and in which there has been some loss of contact
with reality, often including delusions (false,
fixed beliefs) or hallucinations (hearing or seeing
things that are not really there)(NIMH). Antipsychotics are used to treat the positive
symptoms associated with schizophrenia. They
are the most effective medication available, but
can take up to 6 to 8 weeks to start taking effect.