Our study revealed that (i) plasma GDF-11 levels were significantly lower in schizophrenia patients than those in healthy controls; (ii) there were significant negative correlations between GDF-11 level and the PANSS total score, positive symptoms score, negative symptoms score or general psychopathological score in patients; and (iii) plasma GDF-11 level was positively associated with the immediate memory and delayed memory in patients. This evidence concerns the gene GDF11 and schizophrenia.