A recent study examined cognitive trajectories over 20 years in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The research involved 156 participants from the OPUS I trial. The study found that 30.5% of patients experienced a decline in neurocognition, 49.2% maintained stable neurocognition, and 20.3% showed improvements. Good cognitive functioning at the 20-year mark was linked to higher social functioning, while worsening cognitive function correlated with increased experiential negative symptoms. A younger age at inclusion and lower education levels (less than 10 years) predicted declining neurocognition.

The researchers emphasized that their findings support the existence of different schizophrenia subtypes with varying cognitive trajectories. They noted that neurocognitive impairment at the 20-year follow-up was associated with poorer outcomes, underscoring the importance of treatments focused on improving neurocognition in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Reference: Solomon L. Many People with Schizophrenia Have Stable Cognition over 20 Years: Study. ReachMD. Updated February 16, 2024. Accessed May 29, 2024. https://reachmd.com/news/many-people-with-schizophrenia-have-stable-cognition-over-20-years-study/2457213/?utm_source=30&utm_medium=20&utm_campaign=1001180&utm_brand=1&rmd_token=02bd6bec7e3f4beecaad6142d9ab9ba2743885a7dde859ba38f1d267744e4dab&utm_segment=&campaign=FEDMKT