Project Summary

Philip R. Szeszko, Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2003) of Long Island Jewish Medical Center, will examine the relationship between a mutation in the gene for brain derived neurotrophic factors (BDNF) and volume of the front part of the hippocampus in patients in their first episode of schizophrenia.  BDNF is a protein that is widely expressed in the hippocampus, and plays a role in the structure and function of this brain region.  A relatively common mutation that affects the structure of the BDNF protein has been identified.  Dr. Szeszko will use brain imaging to assess the structure of both the front and back regions of the hippocampus, and analyze DNA samples of 90 first-episode schizophrenia patients and 150 healthy volunteers to examine whether variation in the BDNF gene is associated with hippocampal volume.  The data to be collected may lead to the discovery of new biological abnormalities for molecular genetic studies of schizophrenia.  

Program Area: SCHIZOPHRENIA/PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS\Schizophrenia\First-Episode Psychosis

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