Cognitive performance of individuals with schizophrenia across seven decades: a study using the MATRICS consensus cognitive battery.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of aging, schizophrenia, and their interaction on cognitive function.


METHODS
Cross-sectional controlled study.


METHODS
Community living.


METHODS
A total of 235 subjects with schizophrenia age 19-79 and 333 comparison subjects age 20-81.


METHODS
The Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB).


RESULTS
Older age was associated with poorer performance on 9 of 10 MCCB tests in both subjects with schizophrenia and comparison subjects. Subjects with schizophrenia were impaired relative to comparison subjects on each of the 10 tests. However, there was no interaction between aging and schizophrenia on any test. Essentially the same results were observed when analyzing performance on the seven MCCB cognitive domains and MCCB global composite score.


CONCLUSIONS
Consistent with other reports, schizophrenia appears to be a disorder marked by generalized cognitive dysfunction. However, the rate of cognitive decline appears to be similar to that observed in healthy comparison subjects. They do not experience acceleration in cognitive aging, which supports the hypothesis that schizophrenia is a syndrome of premature aging. Longitudinal studies including very old patients are needed to confirm and extend these findings.
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada.
Tarek K
TK
Rajji
Aristotle N
AN
Voineskos
Meryl A
MA
Butters
Dielle
D
Miranda
Tamara
T
Arenovich
Mahesh
M
Menon
Zahinoor
Z
Ismail
Robert S
RS
Kern
Benoit H
BH
Mulsant
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D019588:Aging, Premature / Q000209:etiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology