Bath researchers awarded Wellcome grant for psychotic disorder study

New funding to investigate cognitive decline and brain ageing

The University of Bath has received a £3.5 million Wellcome grant to study cognitive decline and premature brain ageing in psychotic disorders like schizophrenia.

Led by Professor Esther Walton from the Department of Psychology, the five-year project aims to develop new treatments with fewer side effects and find ways to prevent and slow cognitive impairment.

The study, titled ‘The glue that holds the pieces together’: Unlocking Cognitive Health in Psychotic Disorders, is co-designed with adults who have lived experience of psychosis. Professor Walton said: “Cognitive impairment in psychosis is often overlooked, yet it can shape a person’s entire future. Our research aims to change that.”

Ad Gridley, a project consultant diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teenager, emphasised the importance of the study: “Our lived experience panel has been involved from the start, shaping the research and ensuring it reflects real-world challenges.”

Cognitive impairment is one of the most disabling aspects of psychotic disorders, often appearing early and worsening over time. Recent research suggests that the brain changes behind these impairments resemble premature ageing, such as brain shrinkage.

Professor Walton’s team will use cutting-edge methods to investigate cognitive impairment in psychosis. These methods include brain scans and computer models to study how cognitive impairment and psychosis speed up brain ageing.

They will also study mice to understand the brain cell changes linked to cognitive impairment and schizophrenia. Additionally, they will analyse protein samples from people who later developed psychosis to find new ways to prevent memory and thinking problems.

The study hopes to drive early interventions that could slow or prevent deterioration. It brings together experts from Cardiff, Oxford, Cambridge, UCL and the University of Jena in Germany. The goal is to raise awareness, break stigma and develop better ways to predict, prevent and treat these issues.