Schizophrenia causes changes in a person’s thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually appear when people are in their 20s, though the average age of onset can vary.
One
Additionally, the age of onset for schizophrenia may affect the condition’s course.
In addition to the onset of schizophrenia symptoms, many people with schizophrenia experience a
A 2014 study suggests that the schizophrenia prodrome may appear up to 9 years prior to the onset of the condition.
Knowing the average age of schizophrenia onset reveals little about whether or when an individual might develop this condition.
Keep reading to learn more about the average age of onset for schizophrenia, including early onset, late onset, and some early symptoms of the condition.
Symptoms of schizophrenia usually appear late in adolescence or early in adulthood.
However, less noticeable symptoms of schizophrenia, such as erratic moods or depression, may occur many years prior to diagnosis. Doctors call this a prodrome. Prodromal symptoms may indicate that a person has a higher risk of developing schizophrenia.
The typical age of onset for schizophrenia symptoms is in the 20s, though people may develop other symptoms as early as 9 years before diagnosis. A
Early onset of schizophrenia occurs before a person’s 20s. It is very uncommon for children under the age of 12 to have symptoms of schizophrenia. Doctors call this very early-onset schizophrenia.
Early-onset schizophrenia occurs in teenagers ages 13–18. It is more common than childhood schizophrenia, but it is still fairly uncommon.
Numerous studies on early-onset schizophrenia have reached mixed conclusions about the course of the condition. However, more recent research suggests that symptoms tend to be more severe when they appear early in life.
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- more hospitalizations
- more relapses
- more negative symptoms
- less social functioning
- less employment functioning
- less overall functioning
A 2014 study suggests that exposure to more environmental risk factors for schizophrenia in people with a genetic predisposition to the disease might cause symptoms to appear earlier in life.
As much as
There is ongoing debate about whether this is the same disease, with the same risk factors, as schizophrenia that occurs prior to midlife or early-onset schizophrenia. A
Very late-onset schizophrenia appears for the first time after age 60.
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Therefore, late-onset schizophrenia could be a risk factor for dementia.
Late-onset schizophrenia could also be a prodrome of other diseases. For example, it could be an early manifestation of certain types of dementia.
Schizophrenia affects a person’s ability to think clearly and to draw accurate conclusions about the world around them. The symptoms
- hallucinations, or perceiving things others do not
- delusions, or thinking things that appear to be untrue
- changes in the expression of emotions
- cognitive issues
- difficulties in relationships with others
- atypical or socially unacceptable behaviors
Some, but not all, people who develop schizophrenia have other mental health symptoms before schizophrenia symptoms appear. These may include:
- depression
- anxiety
- irritability
- mood swings
- anger
- sleep difficulties
- suicidal thoughts
- obsessive and compulsive behaviors and thoughts
Like other mental illnesses, schizophrenia has complex biological, social, psychological, and developmental roots.
Genetics play an important role. A
While a person cannot change their genes and this data points to the important role of genetics, it also shows that genes are not the only — or even necessarily, the most important — factor.
Recent research increasingly treats schizophrenia as a developmental condition, which means that factors that occur during development can increase the odds of schizophrenia, especially in people who are already at a genetically high risk.
A 2014 study found a correlation between environmental risk factors in people at a higher genetic risk for schizophrenia and the later development of schizophrenia symptoms.
Some early developmental risk factors
- inadequate prenatal nutrition
- infection in the gestational parent during pregnancy
- oxygen deprivation at birth
- trauma
- cannabis use
Minimizing these risk factors may reduce the risk of developing schizophrenia. Quality prenatal care, access to healthy food and support during pregnancy, and support to ensure people only become pregnant when they are ready to care for themselves and the pregnancy may all reduce the risk of schizophrenia.
Similarly, measures that reduce the risk of childhood trauma, such as by reducing childhood poverty and supporting at-risk families, may help.
The correlation between cannabis use and schizophrenia is not clear, but people with a family history of the condition may wish to avoid cannabis, even medical cannabis.
Schizophrenia is a chronic illness that usually lasts a lifetime, though treatment can manage symptoms. Some people find full relief with treatment, while others may relapse or have to try several different treatments before getting any relief.
While the average age of schizophrenia onset can help with deciding how likely it is that a person’s symptoms stem from schizophrenia, people of any age can have schizophrenia.
Age is not a good predictor of schizophrenia risk, since many factors influence individual schizophrenia risk. There is no age at which the risk of developing schizophrenia disappears.
Many people with schizophrenia
People who think they might have schizophrenia, or whose loved ones have expressed concern, should contact a mental health professional or doctor for guidance.