Association of Fetal Gene Regulatory Gene Deletions With Poor Cognition in Schizophrenia and Community-Based Samples

This study investigates how various copy number variants (CNVs) associated with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) influence severe phenotypes, specifically childhood-onset psychosis and borderline intellectual functioning (IQ). The authors found that known risk CNVs and deletions of genes involved in fetal brain development are significantly linked to poor cognitive outcomes in SSDs, suggesting that disrupted neurodevelopment plays a critical role in the clinical variability of these disorders. Additionally, the research highlights the potential of using a neurodevelopmental framework to better understand the mechanisms underlying severe SSD-related phenotypes.