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Journal article

Heterochronicity of white matter development and aging explains regional patient control differences in schizophrenia

Abstract:

Background

Altered brain connectivity is implicated in the development and clinical burden of schizophrenia. Relative to matched controls, schizophrenia patients show (1) a global and regional reduction in the integrity of the brain’s white matter (WM), assessed using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) fractional anisotropy (FA), and (2) accelerated age-related decline in FA values. In the largest mega-analysis to date, we tested if differences in the trajectories of WM tract development influenced patient-control differences in FA. We also assessed if specific tracts showed exacerbated decline with aging.

Methods

Three cohorts of schizophrenia patients (total n=177) and controls (total n=249; age=18–61 years) were ascertained with three 3T Siemens MRI scanners. Whole-brain and regional FA values were extracted using ENIGMA-DTI protocols. Statistics were evaluated using mega- and meta-analyses to detect effects of diagnosis and age-by-diagnosis interactions.

Results

In mega-analysis of whole-brain averaged FA, schizophrenia patients had lower FA (p=10−11) and faster age-related decline in FA (p=0.02) compared to controls. Tract-specific heterochronicity measures, i.e., abnormal rates of adolescent maturation and aging explained ~50% of the regional variance effects of diagnosis and age-by-diagnosis interaction in patients. Interactive, 3D visualization of the results is available at www.enigma-viewer.org.

Conclusion

WM tracts that mature later in life appeared more sensitive to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and were more susceptible to faster age-related decline in FA values.

Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1002/hbm.23336

Authors


More by this author
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-4169-9781


Publisher:
Wiley
Journal:
Human Brain Mapping More from this journal
Volume:
37
Issue:
12
Pages:
4673-4688
Publication date:
2016-08-01
Acceptance date:
2016-07-24
DOI:
EISSN:
1097-0193
ISSN:
1065-9471
Pmid:
27477775


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
pubs:638225
UUID:
uuid:1d9671af-5567-443a-b82c-02cbbbbb4ba4
Local pid:
pubs:638225
Source identifiers:
638225
Deposit date:
2018-11-01

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