Open AccessTranslating ENIGMA schizophrenia findings using the regional vulnerability index: Association with cognition, symptoms, and disease trajectory
Author(s) -
Kochunov Peter,
Fan Fengmei,
Ryan Meghann C.,
Hatch Kathryn S.,
Tan Shuping,
Jahanshad Neda,
Thompson Paul M.,
Erp Theo G. M.,
Turner Jessica A.,
Chen Shuo,
Du Xiaoming,
Adhikari Bhim,
Bruce Heather,
Hare Stephanie,
Goldwaser Eric,
Kvarta Mark,
Huang Junchao,
Tong Jinghui,
Cui Yimin,
Cao Baopeng,
Tan Yunlong,
Hong L. Elliot
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
human brain mapping
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.005
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1097-0193
pISSN - 1065-9471
DOI - 10.1002/hbm.25045
Subject(s) - white matter , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , psychology , cognition , neuroscience , neuroimaging , effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance , psychosis , audiology , medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , psychiatry , radiology
Patients with schizophrenia have patterns of brain deficits including reduced cortical thickness, subcortical gray matter volumes, and cerebral white matter integrity. We proposed the regional vulnerability index (RVI) to translate the results of Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics Meta‐Analysis studies to the individual level. We calculated RVIs for cortical, subcortical, and white matter measurements and a multimodality RVI. We evaluated RVI as a measure sensitive to schizophrenia‐specific neuroanatomical deficits and symptoms and studied the timeline of deficit formations in: early (≤5 years since diagnosis, N = 45, age = 28.8 ± 8.5); intermediate (6–20 years, N = 30, age 43.3 ± 8.6); and chronic (21+ years, N = 44, age = 52.5 ± 5.2) patients and healthy controls ( N = 76, age = 38.6 ± 12.4). All RVIs were significantly elevated in patients compared to controls, with the multimodal RVI showing the largest effect size, followed by cortical, white matter and subcortical RVIs ( d = 1.57, 1.23, 1.09, and 0.61, all p < 10 −6 ). Multimodal RVI was significantly correlated with multiple cognitive variables including measures of visual learning, working memory and the total score of the MATRICS consensus cognitive battery, and with negative symptoms. The multimodality and white matter RVIs were significantly elevated in the intermediate and chronic versus early diagnosis group, consistent with ongoing progression. Cortical RVI was stable in the three disease‐duration groups, suggesting neurodevelopmental origins of cortical deficits. In summary, neuroanatomical deficits in schizophrenia affect the entire brain; the heterochronicity of their appearance indicates both the neurodevelopmental and progressive nature of this illness. These deficit patterns may be useful for early diagnosis and as quantitative targets for more effective treatment strategies aiming to alter these neuroanatomical deficit patterns.