Myelination deficits in schizophrenia: evidence from diffusion tensor imaging

TY - JOUR

T1 - Myelination deficits in schizophrenia: evidence from diffusion tensor imaging

AU - Scheel, M

AU - Prokscha, T

AU - Bayerl, M

AU - Gallinat, J

AU - Montag, C

PY - 2013/1/1

Y1 - 2013/1/1

N2 - BACKGROUND: Diffusion Tensor Imaging studies have repeatedly shown a decrease of the fractional anisotropy (FA) parameter in patients with schizophrenia. This has been interpreted as a disturbed microstructural integrity of white matter. However, FA is a relative parameter that is derived from eigenvalues of the diffusion tensor and FA reductions may be the result of decreases in parallel diffusivity (PD) or increases in radial diffusivity (RD). Despite the well-established FA reduction in schizophrenia, little is known what this reduction is based on.METHODS: Seventeen patients with schizophrenia were scanned with a DTI protocol and compared to a group of healthy control subjects. In addition to an FA comparison, a detailed analysis of PD and RD values was performed with two approaches to localize changes in diffusion values, i.e. a voxel-based analysis and an anatomically based tract specific analysis.RESULTS: We found significantly decreased FA values in the patient group when compared to healthy controls. FA decreases were based on an increase in RD, while we observed no significant changes of PD. These changes were predominantly localized in frontal and temporal areas.CONCLUSION: RD increases as the underlying change in FA decreases is suggestive of desintegration of myelin, which is in line with histopathological studies suggesting a disturbed myelination in schizophrenia.

AB - BACKGROUND: Diffusion Tensor Imaging studies have repeatedly shown a decrease of the fractional anisotropy (FA) parameter in patients with schizophrenia. This has been interpreted as a disturbed microstructural integrity of white matter. However, FA is a relative parameter that is derived from eigenvalues of the diffusion tensor and FA reductions may be the result of decreases in parallel diffusivity (PD) or increases in radial diffusivity (RD). Despite the well-established FA reduction in schizophrenia, little is known what this reduction is based on.METHODS: Seventeen patients with schizophrenia were scanned with a DTI protocol and compared to a group of healthy control subjects. In addition to an FA comparison, a detailed analysis of PD and RD values was performed with two approaches to localize changes in diffusion values, i.e. a voxel-based analysis and an anatomically based tract specific analysis.RESULTS: We found significantly decreased FA values in the patient group when compared to healthy controls. FA decreases were based on an increase in RD, while we observed no significant changes of PD. These changes were predominantly localized in frontal and temporal areas.CONCLUSION: RD increases as the underlying change in FA decreases is suggestive of desintegration of myelin, which is in line with histopathological studies suggesting a disturbed myelination in schizophrenia.

KW - Adult

KW - Anisotropy

KW - Case-Control Studies

KW - Demyelinating Diseases

KW - Diffusion Tensor Imaging

KW - Female

KW - Frontal Lobe

KW - Humans

KW - Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Nerve Fibers, Myelinated

KW - Neuroanatomical Tract-Tracing Techniques

KW - Schizophrenia

KW - Temporal Lobe

KW - Young Adult

U2 - 10.1007/s00429-012-0389-2

DO - 10.1007/s00429-012-0389-2

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 22327232

VL - 218

SP - 151

EP - 156

JO - BRAIN STRUCT FUNCT

JF - BRAIN STRUCT FUNCT

SN - 1863-2653

IS - 1

ER -