Biologic Clues for Childhood-Onset Schizophrenia

Thinning of cortical gray matter, similar to that seen in children with schizophrenia, decreased over time in healthy siblings.

Researchers at NIMH have reported that children with childhood-onset schizophrenia (COS) show on MRI a progressive loss of cortical gray matter (GM) in a posterior to frontal pattern during adolescence. Now, the same research group has examined GM cortical thickness in frontal, temporal, and parietal areas of 52 healthy siblings (age range, 8–28) of COS probands and 52 controls matched for age, sex, and number of MRIs (controls had higher socioeconomic status). MRIs were performed at 2-year intervals (total scans: sibling group, 108; control group, 113).

Compared with controls, siblings had significantly thinner GM in left prefrontal and bilateral temporal areas beginning at age 8 and less significant thinning in right prefrontal and inferio…

Reviewing Author

Barbara Geller, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Barbara Geller, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose