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Cortical Structures Underlying Schizophrenia and Sex Differences in Preadolescents: An Adolescent Brain Cognitive
Jinmei Du1,2, Xin Cui3,4, Xintian Hong1,2
1Philosophy and Social Science Laboratory of Reading and Development in Children and Adolescents, South China Normal University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, 510631, China.
Child Psychiatry and Human Development
|July 30, 2026
Summary
Children with schizophrenia show distinct brain structure changes, with boys exhibiting sex-specific differences in specific brain regions compared to girls. Early identification of these neurological indicators is key for targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder requiring early diagnosis.
- Identifying early neurological indicators is crucial for timely intervention.
- Brain structure abnormalities are implicated in schizophrenia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate brain structure in children (aged 9-10) with schizophrenia.
- To examine potential sex differences in brain structure among these children.
- To identify early neuroanatomical markers for schizophrenia in youth.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study.
- Screened 238 children with schizophrenia using Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (KSADS-5).
- Employed propensity score matching for a healthy control group (N=238) and analyzed 19 brain regions of interest (ROIs) using linear mixed-effects models.
Main Results:
- Children with schizophrenia exhibited significant structural changes in multiple brain regions, including the left medial orbital sulcus and right precentral gyrus.
- Sex-based analysis revealed boys with schizophrenia had increased right inferior frontal gyrus surface area and reduced right postcentral gyrus and right central sulcus volume compared to girls.
- Specific ROIs like the right triangular part of the inferior frontal gyrus, right postcentral gyrus, and right central sulcus showed significant sex-related differences.
Conclusions:
- The study identified specific brain structural alterations in children with schizophrenia.
- Significant sex differences in brain structure were observed, suggesting distinct neurodevelopmental trajectories.
- Findings may guide the development of individualized neuromodulation and pharmacological treatments for schizophrenia based on sex-specific patterns.
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