A groundbreaking study has found that our eyes may hold subtle signs of schizophrenia before symptoms ever appear. Researchers from the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich discovered that people with higher genetic risk for schizophrenia show slight thinning in specific layers of the retina, even without a diagnosis.
Using data from nearly 35,000 participants in the UK Biobank, the study linked schizophrenia-related genes to reduced thickness in the macula, the retina’s central region vital for sharp vision. A key discovery was thinning in the ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL), particularly among individuals with genes tied to inflammation. The likely culprit? Neuroinflammation. Higher genetic risk was also linked to increased levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation, which may help explain the retinal changes. While retinal imaging isn’t a stand-alone diagnostic tool, it could become a useful, noninvasive way to monitor risk when combined with other markers. The research adds weight to the idea that inflammation and neurodegeneration play a role in schizophrenia, and that the retina might offer a glimpse into the brain’s hidden battles.
Sources:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s44220-025-00414-6#Sec2
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