Israeli scientists have made significant progress in treating schizophrenia, demonstrating “immediate” improvements in brain function during a recent trial at the Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa. In this innovative study, two monkeys were administered hallucinogens and subsequently treated with electrical impulses, a method known as Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). This approach aims to reconnect “disconnected” areas of the brain, identified as a crucial factor in the onset of schizophrenia.
The lead researcher, Nir Asch, 44, who works in the psychiatric department at the medical centre under the mentorship of DBS pioneer and 2024 Israel Prize laureate, Professor Hagai Bergman, explained the underlying mechanics of the brain’s functions. Asch noted, “The brain is a prediction machine. It tries to predict what will happen. It builds a model. It asks, ‘What is the situation? What is happening around me?’”
For individuals suffering from schizophrenia, this predictive mechanism falters. The internal model fails to adapt, even when external circumstances change. “They are kind of stuck in their own model,” Asch stated. “The input is there, but they don’t relate.”
In the trial, the monkeys exhibited chaotic and dissociative behaviors similar to those of individuals with schizophrenia after receiving hallucinogens. Following the administration of DBS, the research team observed immediate restoration of normal brain function, effectively eliminating the disconnect. Asch remarked, “The cognitive inflexibility was cured. The monkeys returned to the levels of when they were healthy, and they were also much less chaotic.”
Encouraged by these promising results, the research team plans to advance their study to human trials. Asch expressed optimism about the potential for progress, stating, “Because the study was successfully performed on non-human primates, whose brains are remarkably similar to those of humans, we’re already meeting to discuss the best way to move forward.”
In addition to his research, Asch practices medicine and sees firsthand the challenges faced by patients and their families. He expressed a strong motivation to bring this treatment to a broader audience, saying, “It can be very frustrating as a doctor when we don’t have great treatments. If we can add more tools that are effective and pave the way to recovery, then it would be so wonderful.”
The ongoing research highlights the potential of innovative techniques in addressing complex mental health issues, with hopes that similar breakthroughs can significantly improve the lives of those affected by schizophrenia.
