When I experienced my first episode of schizophrenia at age 18, my memory and attention took a severe hit, such that in my first semester back at college my GPA dropped a full point. Such cognitive deficits are common among people with schizophrenia, and present a major challenge for our recovery. However, current mainstream schizophrenia medications generally do not enhance cognition, and many may worsen it.

To address this void in psychiatric treatment, Drs.Tom Weickert and Cyndi Shannon Weickert at Neuroscience Research Australia, have run a clinical trial of the estrogen-modulating drug raloxifene. Their results have been promising: this treatment improved attention and memory in men and women with schizophrenia. This month, this husband-and-wife team joins us for a live Brain Waves Q&A.

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