title: Grey matter and social functioning correlates of glutamatergic metabolite loss in schizophrenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thalamic glutamine loss and grey matter reduction suggest neurodegeneration in first-episode schizophrenia, but the duration is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To observe glutamine and glutamate levels, grey matter volumes and social functioning in patients with schizophrenia followed to 80 months after diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Grey matter volumes and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy metabolites in left anterior cingulate and left thalamus were measured in 17 patients with schizophrenia before medication and 10 and 80 months after diagnosis. Social functioning was assessed with the Life Skills Profile Rating Scale (LSPRS) at 80 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sum of thalamic glutamate and glutamine levels decreased over 80 months, and correlated inversely with the LSPRS. Thalamic glutamine and grey matter loss were significantly correlated in frontal, parietal, temporal and limbic regions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Brain metabolite loss is correlated with deteriorated social functioning and grey matter losses in schizophrenia, consistent with neurodegeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aoyama
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Théberge
authors.forename: Dick J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Drost
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manchanda
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Northcott
authors.forename: Richard W J
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Neufeld
authors.forename: Ravi S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.forename: Nagalingam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rajakumar
authors.forename: William F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Pavlosky
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Densmore
authors.forename: Betsy
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Williamson
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D001931:Brain Mapping; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005973:Glutamine / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D058992:Social Participation; D013788:Thalamus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D005973:Glutamine; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D018698:Glutamic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate