Cognitive Impairment in Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a condition that affects people’s mental health in different ways. Most commonly it can affect a person’s mood or behavior.  But it also can also affect how a person thinks, remembers, their mental functioning, and their ability to socialize or do their work. Doctors call this change in functioning, ‘cognitive impairment’. Examples of cognitive impairment include struggling to remember where you put something, difficulty calculating the correct change when you pay for something in cash, or not arriving on time to appointments due to difficulty with time management.

There are no approved treatments for cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia. That is why researchers are conducting CONNEX – a clinical research study that will determine if an investigational drug can improve cognition in people with schizophrenia.

The CONNEX study will compare the effects of the investigational drug with an inactive tablet called a placebo which looks like the investigational drug but contains no active ingredients. So, if you take part in CONNEX, you may receive the investigational drug, or you may receive the placebo.  If you successfully complete the CONNEX study, you may also be presented with the option to join a follow-up study, which will provide the investigational drug to all participants. The CONNEX team are looking for participants and study partners to take part in the study program.

To be considered for the study, a participant must:

  • Be 18-50 years of age (inclusive, at the time of joining the study)
  • Have been diagnosed with schizophrenia
  • Have been taking the same drug(s) for schizophrenia for at least three months
  • Be experiencing difficulties such as remembering things, staying focused on tasks or conversations, or figuring out how to do something
  • Be able to attend certain visits with somebody who they see and speak to regularly (this person will be an official ‘study partner)
  • There are additional requirements that potential study participants must meet in order to qualify for the study

If you are interested in learning more about the CONNEX study, see 这里。 This will take you to a webpage with additional study information including a pre-screening questionnaire that will inform a participating study site near you of your interest. Site staff may then reach out to provide you more information.