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Hippocampus age-related microstructural changes in schizophrenia: a case-control mean diffusivity study

Chiara Chiapponi1, Fabrizio Piras1, Sabrina Fagioli1

  • 1IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Department of Clinical and Behavioral Neurology, Neuropsychiatry Laboratory, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy.

Schizophrenia Research
|June 14, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Schizophrenia patients show early microstructural damage in the hippocampus, indicated by increased mean diffusivity. These changes worsen with age, suggesting ongoing damage throughout the lifespan.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroimaging
  • Psychiatry
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Macrostructural abnormalities of the hippocampus are known in schizophrenia.
  • Microstructural integrity is crucial for hippocampal function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate age-related microstructural changes in the hippocampus in schizophrenia.
  • To characterize hippocampal mean diffusivity as an index of microstructural damage.

Main Methods:

  • Neuroimaging study involving 85 schizophrenia patients and 85 healthy controls.
  • Analysis of covariance to assess mean diffusivity differences based on diagnosis and age.

Main Results:

  • Patients with schizophrenia exhibited an early increase in hippocampal mean diffusivity.
  • This increase in mean diffusivity was found in both the right and left hippocampi.
  • The microstructural damage in the hippocampus progressed with age in patients.

Conclusions:

  • Microstructural hippocampal changes in schizophrenia are not limited to a specific age range.
  • These findings highlight ongoing neurodegenerative processes in the hippocampus associated with schizophrenia.
Keywords:
AgeHippocampusMean diffusivitySchizophreniaTrajectories

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