Congenitally blind people do not develop schizophrenia, studies confirm
Updated
Updated · The Conversation · May 1
Congenitally blind people do not develop schizophrenia, studies confirm
10 articles · Updated · The Conversation · May 1
A 2018 Western Australia study of nearly 500,000 births found 1,870 schizophrenia cases, but none among 66 children with congenital cortical blindness.
Researchers say the apparent protection is specific to cortical blindness from birth; people blinded later or through eye damage can still develop schizophrenia.
Scientists think early visual-cortex reorganisation may stabilise how the brain predicts reality, potentially guiding future treatments beyond dopamine toward perception, learning and glutamate-related pathways.
If congenital blindness prevents schizophrenia, can we therapeutically rewire the brain for the same protection?
What does the link between vision and schizophrenia reveal about how our brains construct reality?
A mutated gene and gut bacteria are linked to schizophrenia. Is the cure found outside the brain?
Complete Protection Against Schizophrenia in Congenitally Cortically Blind Individuals: Epidemiology and Neuroplasticity Insights
Overview
A large study found that children with congenital cortical blindness (CCB) show complete protection against schizophrenia, unlike the general population or those with peripheral blindness who have some risk. This protection stems from early brain reorganization where the damaged visual cortex is repurposed for other senses and cognitive functions, leading to altered brain connectivity and a thicker occipital cortex. These changes create a structural and functional reserve that shields against psychosis. Building on this, the Protection-Against-Schizophrenia (PaSZ) hypothesis links visual capacity to schizophrenia risk and guides new interventions focused on enhancing neuroplasticity and sensory processing to prevent the disorder.