Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 12, 2025
Standardized Data Acquisition for Neuromelanin-Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Substantia Nigra
Published on: September 8, 2021
The association between plasma betaine level and brain structural changes in schizophrenia
Favour Omileke1, Tempei Ikegame1, Shimon Tonsho1
1Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Lower betaine levels in schizophrenia may impact brain structure. This study found betaine correlates with brain volumes, particularly in areas affected by schizophrenia, suggesting a role in the disorder's physical changes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Metabolic Research
Background:
- Previous studies indicate reduced plasma betaine in schizophrenia patients.
- Betaine is crucial for homocysteine metabolism and methyl group donation, impacting DNA methylation.
- Decreased betaine may link to elevated homocysteine and altered methylation processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between betaine levels and brain structural changes in schizophrenia.
- To explore how reduced betaine might influence brain volumes in individuals with chronic schizophrenia.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study comparing 27 patients with chronic schizophrenia and 49 healthy controls.
- Analysis of plasma betaine levels and their correlation with brain structural data.
Main Results:
- Betaine's effect on brain volume is specific to the group (schizophrenia vs. healthy).
- Significant correlations were observed between betaine levels and brain regions implicated in schizophrenia, such as the superior temporal gyrus.
Conclusions:
- Betaine levels may play a role in the development of aberrant brain structural changes in schizophrenia.
- The findings suggest betaine as a potential factor contributing to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia-related brain alterations.
More Related Videos
08:04Derivation, Expansion, Cryopreservation and Characterization of Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Published on: November 19, 2020
07:30Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study
Published on: August 18, 2020
Related Concept Videos
01:29Biological Causes of Schizophrenia
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin...
01:27Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
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...