May 31, 2016 06:47 AM EDT By Mariel Peralta, UniversityHerald Reporter

There's hope yet for patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. A study focused on studying the effects of the disease, researchers used Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) brain scans to show that brains actually have the means to heal themselves from the effects of schizophrenia.

MRI Brain Scans Reveal Brains Can Fight Schizophrenia

This is the first study that scientists were able to prove that brains can fight schizophrenia through MRI brain scans. Schizophrenia was first thought of as an irreversible mental disease, but the new study reveals that the brain constantly tries to heal itself from the damage and effects of the condition, Science Daily reported.

In the study, researchers looked at nearly 100 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. They used MRI to scan their brains and compared it with another group without the disease. Schizophrenia is a psychiatric condition marked by a decrease in brain tissue volume. However, scientists were able to see that there is a minute increase in some parts of the brain. The details of the study are published online in Psychology Medicine.

Schizophrenia Not Really a Degenerative Disease?

In their findings, reseachers were able to say that the brains of patients with schizophrenia are constantly trying to repair itselves, Forbes noted. This dispels the notion that schizophrenia is a degenerative disease because despite tissue damage, the brain is increasing its grey matter slowly - a feat that was difficult to see in the past without MRI.

Scientists are now planning to use their findings to continue their research. In line with this, they may able to find new treatment methods for patients with schizophrenia, UPI shared. This is because the most advanced treatments for the disease only targets how to prevent the brain from reducing its brain tissues instead of reversing the damage of schizophrenia.

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