Figure 1.

Proposed model whereby genetic and environmental factors influence schizophrenia risk in part through effects on cognition. By modelling both molecular and phenotypic data from families, Toulopoulou et al. show that cognition is an important mediator trait (endophenotype) that lies between known genetic factors captured by PRSs and the disease and that cognition can explain about a third of the known polygenic risk liability for schizophrenia. Environmental and genetic factors also influence schizophrenia risk through alternative cognitive-independent pathways.