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Polygenic Risk Score for Schizophrenia and Face-Processing Network in Young Adulthood.
Johannes Lieslehto1,2, Vesa J Kiviniemi2,3, Tanja Nordström2,4
1Department of Psychiatry, Research Unit of Clinical Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Schizophrenia Bulletin
|October 4, 2018
Summary
High polygenic risk score for schizophrenia is linked to reduced brain connectivity in face-processing regions. This finding suggests genetic predisposition impacts neural network function in individuals at risk for schizophrenia.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Genetics
Background:
- Schizophrenia development involves genetic and environmental factors.
- Cognitive deficits, including social communication and facial recognition, are common in schizophrenia and may indicate risk.
- The face-processing network's functional and structural integrity is crucial for social cognition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between polygenic risk score (PRS) for schizophrenia and interregional brain signal similarities in the face-processing network.
- To examine if early adversity moderates the relationship between PRS and brain connectivity.
- To explore potential neural mechanisms underlying schizophrenia risk.
Main Methods:
- Utilized functional (BOLD signal) and structural (gray matter volume) data from individuals in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986.
- Analyzed data from 90 individuals for discovery and 211 individuals for replication of structural findings.
- Correlated polygenic risk scores with interregional similarities within the face-processing network.
Main Results:
- Individuals with a higher PRS exhibited lower interregional correlations in both BOLD signal and gray matter volume.
- The association between PRS and gray matter volume similarity was replicated in a separate sample.
- No significant interaction was found between early adversity and PRS on interregional correlations.
Conclusions:
- Polygenic risk score for schizophrenia is associated with altered functional and structural connectivity in the face-processing network.
- Reduced neural synchrony in face-processing regions may be a biomarker for schizophrenia risk.
- The findings suggest that genetic predisposition influences neural network organization relevant to social cognition.
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