London: People at greater risk of schizophrenia, a severe disorder characterised by delusions and hallucinations, could see a drop in their intelligent quotient (IQ) as they age, says a new study.
Scientists from the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, using the latest genetic techniques, say the findings could lead to new research into how different genes for schizophrenia affect brain function over time.
"Retaining our thinking skills as we grow older is important for living well and independently. If nature has loaded a person's genes towards schizophrenia, then there is a slight but detectable worsening in cognitive functions between childhood and old age," said Ian Deary, professor at the Centre for Cognitive Ageing.
