DHEA and Increased Homocysteine in Schizophrenia and Other Mental Disorders and Declines

It is my hypothesis that schizophrenia results from low dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in utero / neonatal. This results in reduced growth and development of the brain. Subsequently, the hormones cortisol (stress) and testosterone in both sexes (puberty), alone but most likely in combination, combine to reduce DHEA at the time when DHEA naturally begins to decline around age twenty. This then exposes, and further damages the reduced development of the brain of early life, and causes the symptoms of schizophrenia to begin and usually worsen with time. Low DHEA is a characteristic of schizophrenia.

Applebaum, et al., (J Psychiatr Res. 2004 Jul-Aug;38(4):413-6) report that "Homocysteine levels were markedly increased in this population of newly admitted schizophrenic patients, especially in young males." It is important to my hypothesis regarding low DHEA in schizophrenia, and other mental disorders and declines, that Bednarek-Tupilowska and Tupilowski reported that "Individual data showed that dehydroepiandrosterone probably lowers Hcy [homocysteine] level." (Postepy Hig Med Dosw (online) 2004; 58: 381-9. It should also be noted that cortisol and testosterone both raise homocysteine levels, also supporting my hypothesis.

Increased homocysteine is also found in many other disorders and diseases. I suggest reduced DHEA may be the root cause of these as well.