Project Summary

Matti Isohanni, M.D., Ph.D. (Distinguished Investigator 2007) of the University of Oulu, using imaging and neuropsychological measures, plans to study brain markers of midlife schizophrenia in a population of individuals from Northern Finland. Dr. Isohanni has already identified subtle reductions in hippocampus-amygdala complex, grey and white matter volumes, and increase in CSF volume, as well as separable developmental trajectories in terms of early development, brain morphometrics, neuronal network integrity, and cognitive capacity in individuals with schizophrenia in his population. The main goal of this application, as part of the 42-year follow-up of the cohort is to assess the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and medial temporal lobe (MTL) function and progress of schizophrenia in midlife years. It is not known whether genetic or environmental factors (disease- or care-related, eg. drugs) or interactions with normal aging mediate this progression. He hypothesizes that certain alleles of risk genes, early developmental delay, duration of illness and antipsychotic drugs (especially conventional), will be associated with morphological progression as well as alterations in PFC function, and alterations in MTL function will be associated largely with environmental risk factors. Also, he will determine if defined subgroups (e.g., those with high perinatal or genetic risk, delayed childhood psychomotor development, low and high IQ) can be distinguished in terms of progress in CNS function.

Program Area: SCHIZOPHRENIA/PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS

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