Abstract
Volumetric abnormalities in the subcortical structures have been described in schizophrenia. However, it still has to be clarified if subtle microstructural damage is also present. Thus, we aimed to detect subcortical volume and mean diffusivity (MD) alterations in 45 patients with diagnosis of schizophrenia compared with 45 age-, gender-, and educational attainment-matched healthy comparison (HC) participants, by using a combined volumetry and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) method. A secondary aim was to identify the neuropsychological correlates of subcortical abnormalities in the schizophrenic group. We found thalami and hippocampi bilaterally and left accumbens to show MD increase in the schizophrenic group. No volumetric decrease was found. Moreover, significant correlations between the MD values in subcortical structures (right thalamus and hippocampus and left accumbens) and working memory performance were found. Thus, subcortical microstructural alterations are present in schizophrenia even in absence of volumetric abnormalities. Furthermore, microstructural damage in subcortical areas is linked to working memory, suggesting the presence of a subtle microstructural subcortical dysfunction in the pathoetiological mechanism underlying high cognitive load performances in schizophrenia. Finally, our findings indicate that MD is a more sensitive marker of brain tissue deficits than signal intensity variations measured in T1-weighted imaging data, consistently with previous reports. Thus, DTI appears to be an invaluable tool to investigate subcortical pathology in schizophrenia, greatly enhancing the ability to detect subtle brain changes in this complex disorder.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 118-130 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Schizophrenia Bulletin |
| Volume | 37 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2011 |
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Keywords
- mean diffusivity
- subcortical structure
- volume
- working memory
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
Cite this
Hippocampi, thalami, and accumbens microstructural damage in schizophrenia : A volumetry, diffusivity, and neuropsychological study. / Spoletini, Ilaria; Cherubini, Andrea; Banfi, Giulia; Rubino, Ivo Alex; Peran, Patrice; Caltagirone, Carlo; Spalletta, Gianfranco.
In: Schizophrenia Bulletin, Vol. 37, No. 1, 01.2011, p. 118-130.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Hippocampi, thalami, and accumbens microstructural damage in schizophrenia
T2 - A volumetry, diffusivity, and neuropsychological study
AU - Spoletini, Ilaria
AU - Cherubini, Andrea
AU - Banfi, Giulia
AU - Rubino, Ivo Alex
AU - Peran, Patrice
AU - Caltagirone, Carlo
AU - Spalletta, Gianfranco
PY - 2011/1
Y1 - 2011/1
N2 - Volumetric abnormalities in the subcortical structures have been described in schizophrenia. However, it still has to be clarified if subtle microstructural damage is also present. Thus, we aimed to detect subcortical volume and mean diffusivity (MD) alterations in 45 patients with diagnosis of schizophrenia compared with 45 age-, gender-, and educational attainment-matched healthy comparison (HC) participants, by using a combined volumetry and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) method. A secondary aim was to identify the neuropsychological correlates of subcortical abnormalities in the schizophrenic group. We found thalami and hippocampi bilaterally and left accumbens to show MD increase in the schizophrenic group. No volumetric decrease was found. Moreover, significant correlations between the MD values in subcortical structures (right thalamus and hippocampus and left accumbens) and working memory performance were found. Thus, subcortical microstructural alterations are present in schizophrenia even in absence of volumetric abnormalities. Furthermore, microstructural damage in subcortical areas is linked to working memory, suggesting the presence of a subtle microstructural subcortical dysfunction in the pathoetiological mechanism underlying high cognitive load performances in schizophrenia. Finally, our findings indicate that MD is a more sensitive marker of brain tissue deficits than signal intensity variations measured in T1-weighted imaging data, consistently with previous reports. Thus, DTI appears to be an invaluable tool to investigate subcortical pathology in schizophrenia, greatly enhancing the ability to detect subtle brain changes in this complex disorder.
AB - Volumetric abnormalities in the subcortical structures have been described in schizophrenia. However, it still has to be clarified if subtle microstructural damage is also present. Thus, we aimed to detect subcortical volume and mean diffusivity (MD) alterations in 45 patients with diagnosis of schizophrenia compared with 45 age-, gender-, and educational attainment-matched healthy comparison (HC) participants, by using a combined volumetry and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) method. A secondary aim was to identify the neuropsychological correlates of subcortical abnormalities in the schizophrenic group. We found thalami and hippocampi bilaterally and left accumbens to show MD increase in the schizophrenic group. No volumetric decrease was found. Moreover, significant correlations between the MD values in subcortical structures (right thalamus and hippocampus and left accumbens) and working memory performance were found. Thus, subcortical microstructural alterations are present in schizophrenia even in absence of volumetric abnormalities. Furthermore, microstructural damage in subcortical areas is linked to working memory, suggesting the presence of a subtle microstructural subcortical dysfunction in the pathoetiological mechanism underlying high cognitive load performances in schizophrenia. Finally, our findings indicate that MD is a more sensitive marker of brain tissue deficits than signal intensity variations measured in T1-weighted imaging data, consistently with previous reports. Thus, DTI appears to be an invaluable tool to investigate subcortical pathology in schizophrenia, greatly enhancing the ability to detect subtle brain changes in this complex disorder.
KW - mean diffusivity
KW - subcortical structure
KW - volume
KW - working memory
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78651277186&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=78651277186&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/schbul/sbp058
DO - 10.1093/schbul/sbp058
M3 - Article
C2 - 19542526
AN - SCOPUS:78651277186
VL - 37
SP - 118
EP - 130
JO - Schizophrenia Bulletin
JF - Schizophrenia Bulletin
SN - 0586-7614
IS - 1
ER -