The correlation between the volume of brain white matter and cognitive function in childhood and adolescence-onset schizophrenia / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the relationship between brain white matter volume (WMV) and cognitive function (CF) in childhood and adolescence-onset schizophrenia (CAOS).Methods Forty childhood and adolescence-onset first-episode schizophrenia patients (case group) and thirty-nine healthy volunteers (control group) were selected.All subjects underwent a 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) scans for data acquisition.The Chinese version of MATRICS consensus cognitive battery(MCCB) was used to assess the cognitive function.The psychiatric symptoms of schizophrenia were assessed with the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS).And t test was applied to compare whether there were differences in WMV,CF between the two groups.Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze whether the differences were related with cognitive function and mental symptoms.Results Compared with healthy controls,the case group exhibited WMV deficits in the region of left frontal lobe (LFL) (MNIx =-27,y =12,z =21),right side limbic lobe (RSLL) (MNIx =18,y =-9,z =39) and left cingulate gyrus (LCG) (MNIx =-21,y =-18,z=45) (P＜0.05).The WMV of LFL was negatively related with the total score (r=-0.344,P＜0.05) and the WMV of LCG was negatively related with the positive symptoms score (r=-0.326,P＜0.05) and total score (r=-0.348,P＜0.05) of the PANSS.Besides,compared with the controls,the patients showed significant increase in the scores of Trail Making Test (t =3.56,P＜ 0.01),while significant decrease in the scores of the HVLT-R and BVMT-R(t=-5.67,-8.66,P＜0.05).The WMV of RSLL was positively correlated with verbal fluency test in the case group (r=0.40,P＜0.05).Conclusion CAOS patients exist multiple reduced WMV and cognitive impairment,suggesting the importance of the WMV abnormalities in the pathophysiological mechanism of cognitive impairment.