scholarly journals Decreased Peripheral BDNF Levels and Cognitive Impairment in Late-Life Schizophrenia

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lijuan Huo ◽  
Zhiwei Zheng ◽  
Xiaobing Lu ◽  
Fengchun Wu ◽  
Yuping Ning ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Deficits ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Cognitive Impairments ◽  
Accelerated Aging ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Immediate Memory ◽  
Neuropsychological Status ◽  
Syndrome Scale ◽  
Negative Syndrome ◽  
Serum Bdnf

Objectives: There are relatively few studies on mechanisms of cognitive deficits in late-life schizophrenia (LLS). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), as an important neuroplastic molecule, has been reported to be involved in neurocognitive impairment in schizophrenia. This study aimed to examine whether peripheral BDNF levels were associated with cognitive deficits in LLS, which has not been explored yet.Methods: Forty-eight LLS patients and 45 age-matched elderly controls were recruited. We measured all participants on the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) for cognition and serum BDNF levels. Psychopathological symptoms in patients were assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).Results: The levels of BDNF in LLS patients were significantly lower than those in healthy controls (8.80 ± 2.30 vs. 12.63 ± 5.08 ng/ml, p < 0.001). The cognitive performance of LLS patients was worse than that of the controls on RBANS total score and scores of immediate memory, attention, language, and delayed memory (all p ≤ 0.005). BDNF was positively associated with attention in LLS patients (r = 0.338, p = 0.019).Conclusion: Our findings suggest that older patients with schizophrenia exhibit lower BDNF levels and more cognitive deficits than older controls, supporting the accelerated aging hypothesis of schizophrenia. Moreover, decreased BDNF is related to attention deficits, indicating that BDNF might be a candidate biomarker of cognitive impairments in LLS patients.

scholarly journals Sex-dependent effect on the association of COMT Val158Met polymorphism with schizophrenia clinical symptoms and cognitive impairment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hang Xu ◽  
Yongjie Zhou ◽  
Jiesi Wang ◽  
Meihong Xiu ◽  
Dachun Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Chronic Schizophrenia ◽  
Positive Symptoms ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
Genotype Distribution ◽  
Immediate Memory ◽  
Neuropsychological Status ◽  
Syndrome Scale ◽  
Negative Syndrome

Abstract Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met (rs4680) polymorphism is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, which is related to the regulation of dopamine transmission in the prefrontal cortex. Recent studies have shown that the influence of COMT Val158Met variation is sexually dimorphic. This study aims to explore the possible effect of the interaction between COMT Val158Met polymorphism and sex on patients’ clinical characteristics and cognitive function. 367 inpatients with chronic schizophrenia (246 males and 121 females) and 419 healthy controls (172 males and 247 females) are recruited. The cognitive performances are assessed by Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), and the COMT Val158Met polymorphism is genotyped. The psychopathological symptoms of the patients are assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). We find that: 1) sex difference in the allele frequency and genotype distribution of COMT Val158Met are found only in schizophrenia patients; 2) there is sex × COMT genotype interaction in positive symptoms, immediate memory, attention, and RBANS total score indexes in patients with schizophrenia; 3) mainly in the male patients’ sample, Val/Val carriers exhibit more positive symptoms and more severe cognitive impairment than Met carriers. These findings suggest that COMT Val158Met polymorphism is associated with the risk and severity of schizophrenia in a sexually dimorphic way, which is helpful to understand the factors that may lead to different manifestations of male and female patients with schizophrenia.

Acute and Long-term Memantine Add-on Treatment to Risperidone Improves Cognitive Dysfunction in Patients with Acute and Chronic Schizophrenia

2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (01) ◽  
pp. 21-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Schaefer ◽  
Susanne Sarkar ◽  
Ines Theophil ◽  
Karolina Leopold ◽  
Andreas Heinz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Placebo Group ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Dysfunction ◽  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Verbal Learning ◽  
Chronic Schizophrenia ◽  
Neuroprotective Effects ◽  
Immediate Memory ◽  
Syndrome Scale ◽  
Negative Syndrome

Abstract Introduction Patients with schizophrenia are mainly characterized by negative symptoms and cognitive dysfunction. In this proof-of-concept study we tested effects on cognition and negative symptoms of a 6- or 24-week memantine add-on treatment to risperidone in patients with acute or chronic schizophrenia. Materials and Methods Patients with an acute episode of schizophrenia (n=11) and predominating positive symptoms were randomized to a 6-week add-on treatment with memantine (10 mg twice a day) versus placebo and patients with chronic schizophrenia (n=13) and negative symptoms were randomized to a 24-week add-on treatment with memantine (10 mg twice a day) versus placebo. All patients received antipsychotic medication with risperidone (2–8 mg/day). Psychopathological changes were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) at baseline and after 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 weeks. Cognitive function was measured at baseline, after 6 weeks, and 24 weeks. Results Patients with acute schizophrenia who received add-on treatment with memantine showed a significantly higher performance in attention intensity (p=0.043), problem-solving (p=0.043), verbal learning (p=0.050), and flexibility (p=0.049). Patients with chronic schizophrenia showed a significantly higher immediate memory in the memantine group compared to the placebo group (p=0.033) and a significantly greater reduction of the PANSS sum score if compared to the placebo group. Discussions Our study gives further evidence that memantine add-on treatment to risperidone may have neuroprotective effects and improve cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia. ClinicalTrials.gov Number: NCT00148590 and NCT00148616.

scholarly journals Association between decreased HDL levels and cognitive deficits in patients with bipolar disorder: a pilot study

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Hui ◽  
Xiao Li Yin ◽  
Jie Chen ◽  
Xu Yuan Yin ◽  
Hong Liang Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Cognitive Deficits ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Stepwise Multiple Regression ◽  
Immediate Memory ◽  
Neuropsychological Status ◽  
Confounding Variables ◽  
Gender And Age ◽  
Control Study

Abstract Background Cognitive deficits are common in patients with bipolar disorder (BD). Abnormal high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels have been implicated in cognitive deficits associated with ageing and neurodegenerative disorders. The present study aimed to investigate serum HDL levels, cognitive deficits and their association in patients with BD. Methods Thirty-seven patients with BD and 37 gender- and age-matched healthy controls (HCs) were recruited in a case–control study. Cognition was assessed using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), and serum HDL levels were measured using enzymatic colourimetry. Results There was no difference in serum HDL levels between patients with BD and HCs after adjusting for gender, age, education and body mass index (BMI). Cognitive test scores in patients with BD were significantly lower than those in HCs except for the visuospatial/constructional index after adjusting for confounding variables. Serum HDL levels were positively correlated with RBANS total score and language score in patients with BD. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that serum HDL levels were significantly correlated with RBANS total score and subscale scores on immediate memory and language in patients with BD after adjusting for confounding factors. Conclusions Our findings suggest that patients with BD had poorer cognitive performance than HCs except for the visuospatial/constructional domain, and decreased serum HDL levels were correlated with cognitive deficits, especially in immediate memory and language domains in patients with BD.

CHANGES IN SERUM LEVELS OF BRAIN-DERIVED NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR WITH ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY AND PHARMACOTHERAPY AND ITS CLINICAL CORRELATES IN MALE SCHIZOPHRENIA PATIENTS

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Ibrahim Akbas ◽  
Ozlem Devrim Balaban
Keyword(s):  
Blood Sample ◽  
Electroconvulsive Therapy ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Healthy Population ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Level Increase ◽  
Syndrome Scale ◽  
Negative Syndrome ◽  
Serum Bdnf

Abstract Objectives: It has been postulated that neurotrophin dysregulation leads to disorganization in neuronal networks, which results in schizophrenia. The current study sets out to evaluate if the finding of lower BDNF levels in schizophrenia patients could be confirmed in an independent cohort, and to investigate if the BDNF levels can be altered with different treatment modalities such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and/or antipsychotic pharmacotherapy (PT). Methods: A total of 54 male patients with schizophrenia and 35 healthy controls were included in the study. Schizophrenia patients were subdivided into two groups as the ones who underwent ECT+PT and only PT. Clinical and sociodemographic data questionnaire, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and blood sample collection for BDNF assessment were applied to all patients (on first and last days of admissions) and healthy participants (on the day of the interview). Then, clinical parameters and blood sample outcomes were statistically analyzed. Results: Mean BDNF levels of healthy individuals was significantly higher than mean pre and post-treatment BDNF levels in both PT only and ECT+PT groups. While serum BDNF levels did not increase after ECT+PT, there was a trend level increase in the PT only group. There was no significant correlation between the change in serum BDNF levels with total PANSS scores in either group after treatment. Conclusions: We could confirm previously suggested data of lower serum BDNF levels in schizophrenia patients compared to healthy population but we couldn’t find significant increase in serum BDNF levels with ECT+PT or only PT as some previous studies suggested.

Factor Structure of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) Differs by Sex

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 207-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Walsh-Messinger ◽  
Daniel Antonius ◽  
Mark Opler ◽  
Nicole Aujero ◽  
Deborah M. Goetz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Factor Structure ◽  
Syndrome Scale ◽  
Negative Syndrome

Risk factors associated with treatment-resistant schizophrenia in first-episode psychosis

2017 ◽  
Vol Ano 7 ◽  
pp. 8-12
Author(s):  
Ana Beatriz de Oliveira Assis ◽  
Jayse Gimenez Pereira Brandão ◽  
Pedro Otávio Piva Espósito ◽  
Osmar Tessari Junior ◽  
Bruno Berlucci Ortiz
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
First Episode Psychosis ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Treatment Resistant ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Syndrome Scale ◽  
Episode Psychosis ◽  
Negative Syndrome

Objetivo: Ainda não está claro quais são os fatores de risco para a esquizofrenia resistente ao tratamento (ERT) em primeiro episódio psicótico (PEP). O objetivo deste trabalho é investigar indicadores de risco para ERT em PEP. Métodos: Foram selecionados 53 pacientes em primeiro episódio psicótico, com diagnóstico de esquizofrenia, que deram entrada à enfermaria de psiquiatria do Hospital das Clínicas Luzia de Pinho Melo entre 2011 e 2015. Ao ser admitido na enfermaria, o paciente era avaliado com a Escala de Sintomas para as Síndromes Positiva e Negativa (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale – PANSS) e recebia tratamento inicial por 4 semanas. Caso sua resposta fosse inferior a 40% de redução na PANSS, o antipsicótico era trocado, e as escalas eram aplicadas novamente após mais 4 semanas. Após a falha com dois antipsicóticos, em doses plenas, por 4 semanas cada, a clozapina era introduzida, e o paciente era considerado ERT. Uma regressão logística foi aplicada onde sexo, idade de início, tempo de doença não tratada, uso de substâncias, avaliação global do funcionamento inicial e PANSS inicial total foram inseridos como variáveis independentes, e ERT foi inserida como variável dependente. Resultados: Tempo de doença não tratada apresentou significância de p = 0,038 e Exp (B) = 4,29, enquanto que PANSS total apresentou p = 0,012 e Exp (B) = 1,06. Conclusão: Identificar os fatores associados à resistência precoce ao tratamento poderia permitir aos clínicos evitar o atraso na introdução da clozapina e prevenir um pior prognóstico para esses pacientes.

033 The effect of sleep disturbance on cognition in late-life depression

SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A15-A15
Author(s):  
Andrea Ricciardiello ◽  
Sharon Naismith ◽  
Angela D’Rozario ◽  
Fiona Kumfor ◽  
Rick Wassing
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Sleep Disturbance ◽  
Slow Wave ◽  
Cognitive Deficits ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Verbal Learning ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Sleep Spindles ◽  
Late Life Depression

Abstract Introduction Late-life depression is the most common psychiatric disorder in older adults and is associated with cognitive deficits, however, the role of sleep disturbance in cognitive deficits is poorly defined. In the current study we aimed to examine sleep macro and micro-architecture differences between those with late-life depression and controls. Secondly, we sought to determine how sleep changes relate to clinical memory and executive function measures in those with late-life depression and controls. Methods Using prior clinical data, this retrospective study assessed adults >50 years who had completed an overnight PSG study and comprehensive psychiatric, neuropsychological, and medical assessment. Memory performance was measured using the Weschler Memory Scale logical Memory 1 and 2 components, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (Senior) 30-minute recall and Rey Complex Figure 3-minute recall. Executive function was defined by z scores from Trail Making Test, D-KEFS Stroop Test and Controlled Oral Word Association Test. The sample comprised of 71 depressed participants, defined by a Geriatric Depression Scale score ≥6, and 101 non-depressed participants (GDS <6 and no lifetime history of depression using DSM-IV criteria). Results Contrary to our hypothesis no significant macroarchitectural differences were observed between the groups. Less time spent in slow-wave sleep (SWS) was associated with worse delayed memory recall scores in the depression group (z=.342, p=0.008) although this was not seen in the control group. SWS and slow wave activity (SWA) were not related to measures of executive function performance. Depressed participants demonstrated a reduced level of sleep spindles (Dep= 159 ±142.8, con= 213±163, p=.03) although there were no associations with memory outcomes. Conclusion Compared to younger adults with depression, macroarchitectural differences in those with late-life depression are not as pronounced, due to a reduction of SWS and SWA power as a function of ageing. The efficiency of SWS hippocampal dependent memory processes in depression may be reduced, therefore, more time spent in SWS is related to better memory performance. This study assessed the density of sleep spindles but not spindle and slow wave oscillation coupling which may be more important for hippocampal dependent memory. Support (if any):

scholarly journals Frequency of But Not Capacity for Participation in Everyday Activities Is Associated With Cognitive Impairment in Late Life

2021 ◽  
pp. 073346482098428
Author(s):  
Chao-Yi Wu ◽  
Juleen Rodakowski ◽  
Lauren Terhorst ◽  
Mary Amanda Dew ◽  
Meryl Butters ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Computerized Adaptive Test ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Everyday Activities ◽  
Neuropsychological Status ◽  
Activity Frequency ◽  
Test Version ◽  
Life Function

We examined features of everyday activities (capacity and frequency) between older adults with and without cognitive impairment over 12 months. Participants aged ≥60 years and at risk for depression were included (n = 260); 26% ( n = 69) had an acquired cognitive impairment at baseline. Cognitive impairment was defined as one standard deviation below norms on the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status. Features of everyday activities were measured by a computerized adaptive test version of Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument (LLFDI) at six time points (baseline, 6 weeks, 3, 6, 9, 12 months). There were significant between-group differences in activity frequency ( p = .04), but not activity capacity ( p = .05). The group difference in activity frequency exceeded minimal detectable changes (MDC90 = 3.7) and reached moderate clinical meaningfulness (∆ at six time points = 3.7–4.7). Generalized linear mixed models revealed no Group × Time interactions on activity capacity and frequency ( p = .65 and p = .98). Practitioners may assess changes in activity frequency to monitor cognitive status of clients even when there is no loss of activity capacity.

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