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Sex differences in brainstem structure volumes in patients with schizophrenia
Shintaro Aoyama1, Hiroto Okuda1, Natsu Furuzawa1
1School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan.
Schizophrenia (Heidelberg, Germany)
|March 19, 2023
Summary
Male schizophrenia patients show reduced pons volume, potentially indicating an early onset of this brainstem alteration. This finding highlights sex differences in schizophrenia neuroanatomy.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Psychiatry
- Neuroanatomy
Background:
- Schizophrenia (SZ) is associated with reduced brainstem volumes.
- Previous studies indicate moderate reductions in structures like the midbrain and pons.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sex-specific alterations in brainstem volumes in schizophrenia patients compared to healthy controls.
- To explore correlations between brainstem volume reductions and clinical factors in male patients.
Main Methods:
- T1-weighted MRI scans analyzed using FreeSurfer v6.0.
- Comparison of brainstem volumes between 156 schizophrenia patients and 205 healthy controls, stratified by sex.
- Correlation analysis between pons volume and education/illness duration in male patients.
Main Results:
- Significant reductions in pons volume were observed in schizophrenia patients, particularly in males.
- Decreased pons volume in male patients correlated with lower education levels.
- No significant correlation found between reduced pons volume and duration of illness in male patients.
Conclusions:
- Pons volume reduction in male schizophrenia patients may precede or coincide with illness onset.
- Sex-specific differences in brainstem anatomy are evident in schizophrenia.
- Lower education may be associated with altered brainstem development in male patients with schizophrenia.
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