Exploring Links Between Autoimmune Diseases and Schizophrenia (+Video)

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Key Findings

The study found distinct patterns in how schizophrenia and autoimmune diseases are linked:

  1. Autoimmune Diseases Increasing Schizophrenia Risk:
    2.Ankylosing Spondylitis*: Genetic predisposition to this inflammatory arthritis was associated with a higher risk of developing schizophrenia.
  2. Autoimmune Diseases Decreasing Schizophrenia Risk:
    4.Celiac Disease, Type 1 Diabetes, and Lupus*: Genetic markers for these conditions were linked to a lower risk of schizophrenia, challenging prior studies that suggested an increased risk.
  3. Schizophrenia Increasing Autoimmune Disease Risk:
    Schizophrenia was found to heighten the risk of certain autoimmune diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (encompassing Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) and psoriasis.
  4. No Causal Link Identified:
    Multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis showed no causal relationship with schizophrenia in either direction.

Exploring Biological Mechanisms

The study delved into why these links might exist. Several immune-related factors could explain the relationship:

  • Immune Dysregulation: Schizophrenia and autoimmune diseases share immune system irregularities, such as imbalances in certain immune cells and altered cytokine levels.
  • Genetic Overlap: Some genetic regions associated with schizophrenia also contribute to autoimmune diseases, suggesting shared pathways in their development.
  • Inflammatory Triggers: Chronic inflammation and infections might simultaneously predispose individuals to both schizophrenia and autoimmune diseases.
  • Antibodies and Neural Impact: In conditions like celiac disease, antibodies produced in response to gluten have been implicated in psychiatric symptoms, possibly linking immune responses to brain function.
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Thank you so much for posting this. A yea ago, I had a hunch and was researching online a link between schizophrenia and Behcet’s syndrome. I found that it can be linked to psychosis. I developed this autoimmune disease after I had my twins.

The rheumatologist, who diagnosed my autoimmune disease, said that my pregnancy caused the disease. However, a different specialist said it was the estrogen, in the hormone shots used to create superovulation for the IVF process that we did to have our twins, caused the autoimmune disease.

When I was on a twin site, where I eventually became a moderator for a while, there were other mothers who had gone through IVF or infertility treatments, who were diagnosed with autoimmune diseases after they had their twins.

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Iinterleukin 6 is responsible for developing different kinds of illnes…
For example influenca A can raise in pregrency child’s chanse of getting schizophrenia 7 times…
Immunology is great subject for me.

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My articles of Immunology …

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