Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2025
06:22
In Vivo Imaging of Cerebrospinal Fluid Transport through the Intact Mouse Skull using Fluorescence Macroscopy
Published on: July 29, 2019
13.8K
Glymphatic System Dysfunction Underlying Schizophrenia Is Associated With Cognitive Impairment.
Ye Tu1,2,3, Yan Fang1,2,3, Guohui Li4
1Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Schizophrenia Bulletin
|April 6, 2024
Summary
This study reveals reduced glymphatic system function, measured by the diffusion tensor imaging-along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) index, in individuals with schizophrenia. Lower DTI-ALPS scores correlate with increased cognitive deficits in schizophrenia patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Radiology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Schizophrenia is characterized by structural and functional brain changes.
- The role of the glymphatic system in schizophrenia pathophysiology is understudied.
- Glymphatic dysfunction may contribute to schizophrenia's neurological deficits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate glymphatic system function in schizophrenia.
- To analyze water diffusion along the perivascular space (ALPS) using DTI.
- To correlate glymphatic activity with clinical symptoms in schizophrenia.
Main Methods:
- Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to calculate the DTI-ALPS index.
- 43 individuals with schizophrenia and 108 healthy controls were analyzed.
- Statistical analyses included ANCOVA and partial correlations.
Main Results:
- Individuals with schizophrenia exhibited a significantly reduced DTI-ALPS index.
- This reduction in DTI-ALPS was observed globally and in both hemispheres.
- A lower DTI-ALPS index was associated with poorer cognitive performance in schizophrenia.
Conclusions:
- Glymphatic dysfunction, indicated by a lower ALPS index, is present in schizophrenia.
- Glymphatic impairment may play a role in schizophrenia's underlying mechanisms.
- This dysfunction is linked to cognitive impairments in affected individuals.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia
48
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia indicate a reduction or absence of typical behaviors and emotional responses found in healthy individuals, while positive symptoms reflect an excess or distortion of normal functioning.
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
48
01:27Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
606
Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins are rooted in complex genetic components. Despite our burgeoning understanding, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely deciphered.
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within...
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within...
606
01:30Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions
89
Schizophrenia is a complex mental health disorder that can manifest with various positive symptoms, including thought, movement, and behavior disorders. These symptoms significantly disrupt cognitive and motor functions, leading to profound effects on an individual's ability to engage with the world.
Thought Disorders
Disorganized and unusual thought processes mark thought disorders in schizophrenia. One key feature is disorganized speech, where an individual's conversation includes...
Thought Disorders
Disorganized and unusual thought processes mark thought disorders in schizophrenia. One key feature is disorganized speech, where an individual's conversation includes...
89
01:29Biological Causes of Schizophrenia
55
Schizophrenia, a severe psychiatric disorder, arises from a complex interplay of biological factors, including genetic predisposition, structural brain abnormalities, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and developmental irregularities. These factors collectively contribute to the onset and progression of the disorder, which typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin...
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin...
55
01:17Schizophrenia
76
Schizophrenia, a term introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1911, describes a severe psychological disorder marked by profound disruptions in attention, thought processes, language, emotion, and interpersonal relationships. The core feature of schizophrenia is psychosis — a state characterized by a fundamental detachment from reality. This disconnection manifests through distorted logic, impaired perception, and atypical behavior, severely affecting the lives of those...
76
01:27Language and Cognition
343
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
343