Decreased NURR1 expression can precede downregulation of BDNF mRNA and is paralleled by reductions in TH in cultured mesencephalic neurons, which are less resilient to neurotoxicity with NURR1 deficiency [70], reflecting that there may be specific impediments to dopamine neuron survival in schizophrenia [71]. Here, BDNF is linked to schizophrenia.