Schizophrenia risk factors may include genetics, the environment, and changes in the brain’s structure and function. Not everyone with these factors develops schizophrenia, and not everyone with the condition has a history of these risk factors.
Schizophrenia is a chronic mental health disorder that affects thinking and behavior. It involves symptoms of altered reality perception known as “psychosis,” such as hallucinations and delusions.
Experts aren’t clear on the exact causes of schizophrenia. It’s believed that multiple factors are involved, and the conditions leading to schizophrenia for one person might not be the same as those for someone else.
Common risk factors and causes of schizophrenia
Individual personality traits, life experiences, and surrounding circumstances that increase the chance of someone developing a health condition are known as risk factors.
Risk factors of schizophrenia may indicate that someone has a higher probability of having the condition, but they don’t indicate that they definitely will.
Genetics
Genes make up the complex code that dictates a person’s development from conception to adulthood.
Your genetic makeup influences everything from internal physiological processes to your physical features’ size, color, and shape. Genes are inherited from your biological parents.
Schizophrenia is considered highly heritable , meaning that it’s heavily influenced by genetics. In fact, having a first-degree relative with schizophrenia statistically increases your chances of also receiving this diagnosis.
Despite knowing genetics play an important role, researchers have not yet identified a single gene or even a group of genes as a definite cause of schizophrenia.
In other words, having specific genes does not guarantee that you’ll have schizophrenia. It’s likely that multiple genetic variations contribute to increasing the chance of schizophrenia, each through different pathways.
A 2022 research review on genetics in schizophrenia patients found that gene GBP2 appeared across multiple studies, suggesting that the gene may play an important role in schizophrenia pathology and onset.
More research is needed, though, to determine a causal relationship.
Structural changes in the brain
Changes in your brain, present at birth or acquired as you age, may increase your chance of having schizophrenia.
Several decades of diagnostic imaging research have shown the structure of the brain in people with schizophrenia is different compared to that of people without the condition.
Reduced gray matter volume is one of the most prominent differences in people with schizophrenia. Gray matter is found throughout the brain, particularly as its outermost layer. It’s involved in important cognitive processes related to perception, memory, emotion, and language.
In many people with schizophrenia, gray matter volume seems to be reduced. An MRI study from 2023 indicated the damage to gray matter progresses throughout the course of schizophrenia.
Eventually, structural changes also start to impact white matter, a tissue in the brain that primarily transmits electrical signals throughout the central nervous system.
Functional changes in the brain
Specific changes in how the brain works are also considered a schizophrenia risk factor.
Researchers believe that imbalances in the neurotransmitters glutamate, dopamine, and serotonin may change how your brain reacts to sensory stimuli. Inaccurate sensory perception could lead to experiences of psychosis , like hallucinations or delusions.
Read more about the difference between hallucinations and delusions .
Environmental factors
External influences that increase your chances of developing schizophrenia are referred to as environmental factors.
A variety of environmental risk factors have been associated with increased schizophrenia risk, including :
- traumatic experiences
- substance use
- severe stress
- advanced parental age at birth
- high risk pregnancy and birth complications
- social isolation
- challenges associated with migration
- urbanicity (conditions associated with urban living, such as pollution and social adversity)
- early exposure to certain viruses
How each of these external factors influences schizophrenia isn’t clear, but some experts believe environmental stressors can alter epigenetics or how the genes in your body are expressed.
In other words, experiencing trauma, for example, could cause your genetic expression to change in a way that predisposes you to schizophrenia.
Read more about the causes of schizophrenia .
Can you prevent or reduce the chance of schizophrenia?
Experts have not determined whether someone can prevent schizophrenia altogether. However, it may be possible to decrease the effect of some schizophrenia risk factors.
Managing environmental influences, like substance use and social isolation, is possible with support. Healing from traumatic experiences is also possible for some people receiving professional help to develop coping strategies and relieve chronic psychological stress.
Research also suggests that some lifestyle modifications may reduce overall schizophrenia risk and improve symptoms if they occur. For example, exercising, eating a balanced diet, and not smoking.
Not all risk factors in schizophrenia can be modified or diminished, though. Not enough is known about the genetics and epigenetics of schizophrenia, for example, so researchers have yet to work on a way to manage this genetic risk.
For those who have received the diagnosis, early treatment intervention can significantly improve symptom relief and even achieve remission, a period of time during which symptoms don’t interfere with daily living.
Treating the early symptoms of psychosis with antipsychotic medications could stabilize levels of those neurotransmitters thought to be involved in altered sensory perceptions.
Read about complementary and alternative treatments for schizophrenia .
Can someone without known risk factors develop schizophrenia?
It’s possible to develop schizophrenia even without any known risk factors. The exact causes of schizophrenia are still unclear, and unknown contributing factors are likely involved.
While risk factors increase your chances of receiving this diagnosis, they don’t mean that you’ll undoubtedly develop schizophrenia, either.
Takeaway
Genetics, environmental factors, and changes to your brain’s function and structure can increase your risk for schizophrenia.
They don’t guarantee you’ll develop this mental health condition, however. Even if you don’t have any known schizophrenia risk factors, it’s still possible to develop the condition.
Some risk factors, like substance use, stress, and social isolation, can be improved through proactive management and professional support.
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