The ,ental illness research group of the Valdecilla Health Research Institute (IDIVAL), led by Dr. Ayesa-Arriola, has been recognized with the “Marta Barceló Award” for Best Oral Presentation at the 5th European Meeting on Women’s Mental Health, held this October. The award was given to the presentation delivered by Covadonga García-San Nicolás Cantero, which stood out among the scientific contributions for its methodological rigor and its contribution to advancing knowledge about schizophrenia.
The study, titled “Cognitive endophenotypes in siblings of individuals with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: exploring subgroup vulnerability,” examines how lifetime environmental exposures (the exposome) influence cognitive functioning in individuals with psychosis and their unaffected siblings. The goal is to identify potential early markers of cognitive vulnerability, without implying the inevitable development of the disorder.
An Innovative Approach to Understanding Vulnerability
The study included 170 participants (72 patients experiencing a first episode of psychosis and 98 siblings) enrolled in the PAFIP-Familias program, funded by the Carlos III Health Institute (PI17/0217).
Through interviews and neuropsychological assessments, the research team analyzed different cognitive domains—such as attention, memory, executive functions, and processing speed—to explore how environmental factors may modulate brain functioning in individuals at risk.
The results showed that processing speed was the only cognitive function with significant differences between groups, both when environmental exposures were considered and when they were not. This finding suggests that processing speed not only distinguishes patients from siblings but also reflects the influence of environmental factors, especially among men.
A consistent pattern emerged: men with psychosis showed the lowest performance, followed by women with psychosis, male siblings, and finally female siblings, who achieved the best results. This gradient points to processing speed as a possible early marker of cognitive vulnerability.
Implications and Next Steps
Identifying cognitive indicators associated with risk can help detect vulnerable individuals early and design cognitive training programs to improve their functioning and quality of life.
The research team now plans to incorporate genetic data to study the interaction between genes and the environment, aiming to deepen the understanding of the mechanisms underlying vulnerability to psychotic disorders. The researchers emphasize that “having a relative with schizophrenia does not mean that one will develop the illness. Our goal is to better understand risk and protective factors, in order to move toward more effective prevention and a more compassionate society regarding mental health.”
