title: Accelerated Gray and White Matter Deterioration With Age in Schizophrenia.
abstract: Although brain changes in schizophrenia have been proposed to mirror those found with advancing age, the trajectory of gray matter and white matter changes during the disease course remains unclear. The authors sought to measure whether these changes in individuals with schizophrenia remain stable, are accelerated, or are diminished with age.
  
  
  
  Gray matter volume and fractional anisotropy were mapped in 326 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and in 197 healthy comparison subjects aged 20-65 years. Polynomial regression was used to model the influence of age on gray matter volume and fractional anisotropy at a whole-brain and voxel level. Between-group differences in gray matter volume and fractional anisotropy were regionally localized across the lifespan using permutation testing and cluster-based inference.
  
  
  
  Significant loss of gray matter volume was evident in schizophrenia, progressively worsening with age to a maximal loss of 8% in the seventh decade of life. The inferred rate of gray matter volume loss was significantly accelerated in schizophrenia up to middle age and plateaued thereafter. In contrast, significant reductions in fractional anisotropy emerged in schizophrenia only after age 35, and the rate of fractional anisotropy deterioration with age was constant and best modeled with a straight line. The slope of this line was 60% steeper in schizophrenia relative to comparison subjects, indicating a significantly faster rate of white matter deterioration with age. The rates of reduction of gray matter volume and fractional anisotropy were significantly faster in males than in females, but an interaction between sex and diagnosis was not evident.
  
  
  
  The findings suggest that schizophrenia is characterized by an initial, rapid rate of gray matter loss that slows in middle life, followed by the emergence of a deficit in white matter that progressively worsens with age at a constant rate.
authors.affiliation: From the Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, and the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Melbourne, and Melbourne Health, Melbourne; the Brain and Mental Health Laboratory, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash Biomedical Imaging, and the Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Australia; the Schizophrenia Research Institute and Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, Australia; the Molecular Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Australia; the Faculty of Health, Arts, and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia; and the School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia.
authors.forename: Vanessa L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Cropley
authors.affiliation: From the Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, and the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Melbourne, and Melbourne Health, Melbourne; the Brain and Mental Health Laboratory, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash Biomedical Imaging, and the Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Australia; the Schizophrenia Research Institute and Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, Australia; the Molecular Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Australia; the Faculty of Health, Arts, and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia; and the School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Klauser
authors.affiliation: From the Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, and the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Melbourne, and Melbourne Health, Melbourne; the Brain and Mental Health Laboratory, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash Biomedical Imaging, and the Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Australia; the Schizophrenia Research Institute and Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, Australia; the Molecular Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Australia; the Faculty of Health, Arts, and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia; and the School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia.
authors.forename: Rhoshel K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Lenroot
authors.affiliation: From the Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, and the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Melbourne, and Melbourne Health, Melbourne; the Brain and Mental Health Laboratory, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash Biomedical Imaging, and the Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Australia; the Schizophrenia Research Institute and Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, Australia; the Molecular Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Australia; the Faculty of Health, Arts, and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia; and the School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bruggemann
authors.affiliation: From the Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, and the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Melbourne, and Melbourne Health, Melbourne; the Brain and Mental Health Laboratory, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash Biomedical Imaging, and the Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Australia; the Schizophrenia Research Institute and Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, Australia; the Molecular Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Australia; the Faculty of Health, Arts, and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia; and the School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia.
authors.forename: Suresh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sundram
authors.affiliation: From the Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, and the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Melbourne, and Melbourne Health, Melbourne; the Brain and Mental Health Laboratory, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash Biomedical Imaging, and the Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Australia; the Schizophrenia Research Institute and Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, Australia; the Molecular Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Australia; the Faculty of Health, Arts, and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia; and the School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia.
authors.forename: Chad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bousman
authors.affiliation: From the Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, and the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Melbourne, and Melbourne Health, Melbourne; the Brain and Mental Health Laboratory, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash Biomedical Imaging, and the Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Australia; the Schizophrenia Research Institute and Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, Australia; the Molecular Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Australia; the Faculty of Health, Arts, and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia; and the School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia.
authors.forename: Avril
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: From the Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, and the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Melbourne, and Melbourne Health, Melbourne; the Brain and Mental Health Laboratory, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash Biomedical Imaging, and the Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Australia; the Schizophrenia Research Institute and Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, Australia; the Molecular Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Australia; the Faculty of Health, Arts, and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia; and the School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia.
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Di Biase
authors.affiliation: From the Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, and the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Melbourne, and Melbourne Health, Melbourne; the Brain and Mental Health Laboratory, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash Biomedical Imaging, and the Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Australia; the Schizophrenia Research Institute and Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, Australia; the Molecular Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Australia; the Faculty of Health, Arts, and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia; and the School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia.
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Weickert
authors.affiliation: From the Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, and the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Melbourne, and Melbourne Health, Melbourne; the Brain and Mental Health Laboratory, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash Biomedical Imaging, and the Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Australia; the Schizophrenia Research Institute and Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, Australia; the Molecular Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Australia; the Faculty of Health, Arts, and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia; and the School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia.
authors.forename: Cynthia Shannon
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Weickert
authors.affiliation: From the Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, and the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Melbourne, and Melbourne Health, Melbourne; the Brain and Mental Health Laboratory, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash Biomedical Imaging, and the Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Australia; the Schizophrenia Research Institute and Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, Australia; the Molecular Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Australia; the Faculty of Health, Arts, and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia; and the School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pantelis
authors.affiliation: From the Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, and the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Melbourne, and Melbourne Health, Melbourne; the Brain and Mental Health Laboratory, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash Biomedical Imaging, and the Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Australia; the Schizophrenia Research Institute and Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, Australia; the Molecular Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Australia; the Faculty of Health, Arts, and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia; and the School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zalesky
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016880:Anisotropy; D001931:Brain Mapping; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D009929:Organ Size; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000473:pathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D066127:White Matter / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Aging; Brain Imaging Techniques; Fractional Anisotropy; Gray Matter Volume; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Schizophrenia