DHEA and Increased Homocysteine in Schizophrenia and Other Mental Disorders

DHEA and Increased Homocysteine in Schizophrenia and Other Mental Disorders and Declines

Copyright 2004, James Michael Howard, Fayetteville, Arkansas, U.S.A.

It is my hypothesis that schizophrenia results from low dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in utero / neonatal. This results in reduced growth and development of the brain. Subsequently, the hormones cortisol (stress) and testosterone in both sexes (puberty), alone but most likely in combination, combine to reduce DHEA at the time when DHEA naturally begins to decline around age twenty. This then exposes, and further damages the reduced development of the brain of early life, and causes the symptoms of schizophrenia to begin and usually worsen with time. Low DHEA is a characteristic of schizophrenia.

Applebaum, et al., (J Psychiatr Res. 2004 Jul-Aug;38(4):413-6) report that "Homocysteine levels were markedly increased in this population of newly admitted schizophrenic patients, especially in young males." It is important to my hypothesis regarding low DHEA in schizophrenia, and other mental disorders and declines, that Bednarek-Tupilowska and Tupilowski reported that "Individual data showed that dehydroepiandrosterone probably lowers Hcy [homocysteine] level." (Postepy Hig Med Dosw (online) 2004; 58: 381-9. It should also be noted that cortisol and testosterone both raise homocysteine levels, also supporting my hypothesis.

Increased homocysteine is also found in many other disorders and diseases. I suggest reduced DHEA may be the root cause of these as well.

J.M. Howard wrote: "It is my hypothesis that schizophrenia results from low dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in utero / neonatal."

Interesting. How does this notion reconcile low DHEA levels in twins discordant for schizophrenia? If low DHEA levels are found in utero, wouldn't both twins be affected?

Indeed, homocysteine has been found in many disorders and diseases. Do you think, reduced DHEA would also explain biopolar disorder?

Does anyone know about the genetics of DHEA (e.g. parent passes down low production of DHEA)? Could the genetics of it be correlated with the genetics of schizophrenia?

It's interesting that biopolar patients show elevated DHEA and that lithium reduces its level. That suggests (rather simply) that elevated DHEA is correlated with mania, which indirectly supports your hypothesis that low DHEA results in depression. Have there been any studies correlating homocysteine or DHEA levels with patients diagnosed with clinical depression?

At this point I do not know; I doubt it.

According to my hypothesis regarding schizophrenia, low DHEA in utero, followed later by events which reduce DHEA levels at cirtical times, is the cause of schizophrenia. So, I guess the "genetics" of low DHEA and schizophrenia are connected.

is it me, or does everything you reasearch say that the fetus has low levels of dhea etc..you said that about the monosexuals as well.....