Cholinergic pathways and cognition in patients with schizophrenia: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Cognitive deficits are core features in schizophrenia. Disruption in cholinergic neurotransmission has been associated with executive dysfunction in animals and humans. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of compromised cholinergic pathways on executive versus non-executive cognitive functions of patients with schizophrenia.


METHODS
62 patients with schizophrenia and 62 age- and sex-matched non-psychiatric control subjects ("controls") were assessed and compared using: clinical measures, cognitive measures of global cognition, executive function, and memory; and an MRI-based visual rating scale that assesses damage strategically localized within the cholinergic pathways.


RESULTS
11 of the 62 patients with schizophrenia (17.7%) and 6 of the 62 controls (9.7%) had compromised cholinergic pathways. These proportions were not statistically significant. Patients and controls with compromised cholinergic pathways were more impaired on measures related to executive function than patients or controls without compromised pathways.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with schizophrenia have worse executive function than controls. Compromised cholinergic pathways appear to worsen the executive dysfunction observed in schizophrenia. If these preliminary findings are replicated, they could lead to the identification of a subgroup of patients with schizophrenia who could specifically benefit from interventions enhancing cholinergic neurotransmission.
Geriatric Mental Health Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada.
Tarek K
TK
Rajji
Tiffany W
TW
Chow
Aristotle N
AN
Voineskos
Kira A
KA
Links
Dielle
D
Miranda
David C
DC
Mamo
Zahinoor
Z
Ismail
Bruce G
BG
Pollock
Benoit H
BH
Mulsant
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018678:Cholinergic Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D055815:Young Adult
D018678:Cholinergic Agents