Study on the Role and Mechanism of Plasma Exosome microRNAs in Cognitive Impairment in First-episode Schizophrenia

Launched by TIANJIN ANDING HOSPITAL · Aug 18, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how tiny particles in the blood, called plasma exosome microRNAs, might be linked to thinking and memory problems in people experiencing their first episode of schizophrenia—a serious mental illness. Researchers want to understand what causes these cognitive difficulties by looking at changes in certain genes. This could help find new ways to treat or improve thinking problems in schizophrenia in the future.

The study is looking for people who are newly diagnosed with schizophrenia and have not yet taken any medication, as well as healthy volunteers who are similar in age, sex, and education but have no family history of mental illness. Participants should be between 18 and 65 years old and of Han Chinese ethnicity. If you join, you’ll be asked to provide consent and take part in tests that help researchers study your blood and cognitive function, but the trial excludes people with serious physical illnesses, other mental health conditions, or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. This research is important because it combines lab work with clinical findings to better understand and eventually improve treatment for cognitive symptoms in schizophrenia.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Healthy volunteers matched to the patient group on sex, age, and education level;
• • No family history of psychiatric disorders among first- or second-degree relatives (two generations);
• • Ethnic Han Chinese;
• • Able and willing to provide written informed consent.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Any serious physical illness, including but not limited to uncontrolled hypertension, severe cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, pulmonary, thyroid, or metabolic disease, diabetes, epilepsy, or metabolic syndrome;
• • Current or past diagnosis of substance-induced psychotic disorder, delusional disorder, brief psychotic disorder, or mood disorder with psychotic features;
• • Pregnancy or breastfeeding;
• • Any condition that would interfere with the ability to give informed consent or complete study procedures.