[Brain gray matter volume alterations and cognitive function in first-episode childhood-and adolescence-onset...

Objective: To investigate the abnormal changes of gray matter volume and its relationship with cognitive function in first-episode childhood- and adolescence-onset schizophrenia. Methods: A total of 39 (aged 10-16 years) first-episode childhood- and adolescence-onset schizophrenia (patient group) were recruited from the inpatient departments of Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University between 2014 and 2016, meanwhile, 30 age-, sex- and education years-matched healthy children and adolescents (control group) were also enrolled. All the subjects underwent 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. The volume of gray matter in two groups was compared by voxel based morphometric method (VBM). MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) and the Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT) were employed to evaluate the cognitive function of the two groups, and the relationship between the abnormal gray matter region and the cognitive function in the two group was analyzed. Results: Compared with the control group, brain gray matter volume in the right insula, left inferior frontal gyrus, the left limbic edge were significantly decreased (t=-5.303, -5.302, and -6.211; all P<0.05). Trail making test scores in the patient group were higher than those of the control group (t=3.22, P<0.01). However, scores of symbol coding, HVLT-R, BVMT-R, word fluency, digital span, maze test, word, color and color word were lower than those of the control group (t=-6.41, -5.42, -7.77, -5.59, -8.78, -6.99, -6.98, -6.47 and 4.84, all P<0.01). Pearson correlation analysis showed that the right insula was positively correlated with the BVMT-R and maze test scores, and the left inferior frontal gyrus was positively correlated with the maze scores in the patient group (r=0.32, 0.50 and 0.45, all P<0.05). The left inferior frontal gyrus was positively correlated with the digital span in control group (r=0.46, P<0.05). Conclusion: The first-episode childhood-and adolescence-onset schizophrenia exhibits abnormal changes of gray matter volume and cognitive function, and the pathophysiological mechanisms of a wide range of cognitive impairments may be related to abnormal volume changes of gray matter.