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Blindness Might Ward Off Schizophrenia.
Arguably the most interesting finding I have come across on the internet!
One of the most complex and debilitating mental health disorders that impact millions around the world is schizophrenia. Features including hallucinations, delusions and fragmented cognitive function have for decades perplexed researchers seeking to understand its underlying triggers and any potential preventive mechanisms or cure.
One of the most interesting discoveries in this space is the finding that congenital blindness (born blind) seems to confer some unique protection against schizophrenia. Now, let’s look at the science of this phenomenon, groundbreaking research and its implications.
Blindness And Mental Health
So by contrast, congenital blindness has been linked to the near total absence of schizophrenia diagnoses. This, however, strange link has been confirmed with several large studies, showcasing a deeply tangential link with sensory deprivation, brain development, and mental health.
For example, in a 2018 study led by Vera A. Morgan and colleagues, published in Schizophrenia Research, data were analyzed in nearly half a million individuals in Western Australia (Volume 199, Pages 123–129, DOI: 10.1016/j.schres. 2018. 03. 013).
