Reduced cerebellar volume and neurological soft signs in first-episode schizophrenia

Psychomotor slowing in schizophrenia is associated with aberrant postural control

Motor abnormalities, including psychomotor slowing, are prevalent in a large proportion of individuals with schizophrenia. While postural control deficits have been observed in this population, the impact of motor abnormalities on postural stability remains unclear. This study aimed to objectively evaluate postural stability in patients with and without psychomotor slowing and healthy controls. Seventy-three schizophrenia patients with psychomotor slowing (PS; Salpêtrière Retardation Rating Scale (SRRS) ≥ 15), 25 schizophrenia patients without psychomotor slowing (non-PS; SRRS < 15), and 27 healthy controls (HC) performed four conditions on the Kistler force plate: eyes open (EO), eyes closed (EC), head reclined with eyes open (EOHR), and head reclined with eyes closed (ECHR). Larger sway areas and higher Root Mean Square (RMS) values indicate lower postural stability, while a lower Complexity Index (CI) reflects reduced adaptability, flexibility, and dynamic functioning of postural control. PS exhibited larger sway areas and higher RMS compared to the other groups. Both PS and non-PS showed reduced complexity in postural control compared to healthy controls, without differences between the two patient groups. Reduced postural stability and complexity were associated with greater expert-rated motor abnormalities, as well as more severe negative symptoms. Additionally, lower complexity was linked to reduced physical activity levels. These findings suggest that psychomotor slowing is associated with lower postural stability, potentially reflecting impaired cerebellar function. Furthermore, the loss of complexity in postural control highlights reduced flexibility, adaptability, and efficiency in the postural control network of individuals with schizophrenia.

Identification of schizophrenia by applying interpretable radiomics modeling with structural magnetic resonance imaging of the cerebellum

AIMS

The cerebellum is involved in higher-order mental processing as well as sensorimotor functions. Although structural abnormalities in the cerebellum have been demonstrated in schizophrenia, neuroimaging techniques are not yet applicable to identify them given the lack of biomarkers. We aimed to develop a robust diagnostic model for schizophrenia using radiomic features from T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (T1-MRI) of the cerebellum.

METHODS

A total of 336 participants (174 schizophrenia; 162 healthy controls [HCs]) were allocated to training (122 schizophrenia; 115 HCs) and test (52 schizophrenia; 47 HCs) cohorts. We obtained 2568 radiomic features from T1-MRI of the cerebellar subregions. After feature selection, a light gradient boosting machine classifier was trained. The discrimination and calibration of the model were evaluated. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) was applied to determine model interpretability.

RESULTS

We identified 17 radiomic features to differentiate participants with schizophrenia from HCs. In the test cohort, the radiomics model had an area under the curve, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.89 (95% confidence interval: 0.82-0.95), 78.8%, 88.5%, and 75.4%, respectively. The model explanation by SHAP suggested that the second-order size zone non-uniformity feature from the right lobule IX and first-order energy feature from the right lobules V and VI were highly associated with the risk of schizophrenia.

CONCLUSION

The radiomics model focused on the cerebellum demonstrates robustness in diagnosing schizophrenia. Our results suggest that microcircuit disruption in the posterior cerebellum is a disease-defining feature of schizophrenia, and radiomics modeling has potential for supporting biomarker-based decision-making in clinical practice.

Cerebro-cerebellar gray matter abnormalities associated with cognitive impairment in patients with recent-onset and chronic schizophrenia

Although the role of the cerebellum in schizophrenia has gained attention, its contribution to cognitive impairment remains unclear. We aimed to investigate volumetric alterations in the cerebro-cerebellar gray matter (GM) in patients with recent-onset schizophrenia (ROS) and chronic schizophrenia (CS) compared with healthy controls (HCs). Seventy-two ROS, 43 CS, and 127 HC participants were recruited, and high-resolution T1-weighted structural magnetic resonance images of the brain were acquired. We compared cerebellar GM volumes among the groups using voxel-based morphometry and examined the cerebro-cerebellar GM volumetric correlations in participants with schizophrenia. Exploratory correlation analysis investigated the functional relevance of cerebro-cerebellar GM volume alterations to cognitive function in the schizophrenia group. The ROS and CS participants demonstrated smaller cerebellar GM volumes, particularly in Crus I and II, than HCs. Extracted cerebellar GM volumes demonstrated significant positive correlations with the cerebral GM volume in the fronto-temporo-parietal association areas engaged in higher-order association. The exploratory analysis showed that smaller cerebellar GM in the posterior lobe regions was associated with poorer cognitive performance in participants with schizophrenia. Our study suggests that cerebellar pathogenesis is present in the early stages of schizophrenia and interconnected with structural abnormalities in the cerebral cortex. Integrating the cerebellum into the pathogenesis of schizophrenia will help advance our understanding of the disease and identify novel treatment targets concerning dysfunctional cerebro-cerebellar interactions.

Neurological soft signs and cognition among inpatients with schizophrenia

Introduction: Evidence has shown that neurological soft signs are strongly associated with neurocognitive dysfunction. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to assess the association between NSS and cognitive impairments in a sample of inpatients with schizophrenia. The secondary objective was to explore the association between NSS total scores and functioning.Methods: The study enrolled 95 inpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia disorders and 45 healthy controls. The neurological evaluation scale (NES) was used to assess neurological soft sign while the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) was used to evaluate cognitive functioning in patients with schizophrenia.Results: Patients with schizophrenia had significantly higher mean scores on the NES total test and subtests than the control group. Higher cognition was significantly associated with lower NES total and subtest scores. Higher functional independence was significantly associated with a lower NES total score (Beta = -.25), lower motor coordination subtest score (Beta = -.04), and lower others subtest (Beta = -.12). When taking the functional independence scale as the dependent variable, a higher NES total score was significantly associated with lower functioning (Beta = -0.03).Conclusion: NSS were associated to neurocognitive impairments in almost every domain among patients with schizophrenia. Further prospective research is still needed to confirm this role.

Cortical and subcortical brain morphometry abnormalities in youth at clinical high-risk for psychosis and individuals with early illness schizophrenia

Neuroimaging studies have documented morphometric brain abnormalities in schizophrenia, but less is known about them in individuals at clinical high-risk for psychosis (CHR-P), including how they compare with those observed in early schizophrenia (ESZ). Accordingly, we implemented multivariate profile analysis of regional morphometric profiles in CHR-P (n = 89), ESZ (n = 93) and healthy controls (HC; n = 122). ESZ profiles differed from HC and CHR-P profiles, including 1) cortical thickness: significant level reduction and regional non-parallelism reflecting widespread thinning, except for entorhinal and pericalcarine cortex, 2) basal ganglia volume: significant level increase and regional non-parallelism reflecting larger caudate and pallidum, and 3) ventricular volume: significant level increase with parallel regional profiles. CHR-P and ESZ cerebellar profiles showed significant non-parallelism with HC profiles. Regional profiles did not significantly differ between groups for cortical surface area or subcortical volume. Compared to CHR-P followed for ≥18 months without psychosis conversion (n = 31), CHR-P converters (n = 17) showed significant non-parallel ventricular volume expansion reflecting specific enlargement of lateral and inferolateral regions. Antipsychotic dosage in ESZ was significantly correlated with frontal cortical thinning. Results suggest that morphometric abnormalities in ESZ are not present in CHR-P, except for ventricular enlargement, which was evident in CHR-P who developed psychosis.

Neurological and cerebellar soft signs in bipolar disorder: The role of staging, type and history of psychotic symptoms

AIM

Bipolar disorder (BD) patients show neurological abnormalities in form of neurological and cerebellar soft signs (NSS and CSS). NSS represents heterogeneous group of symptoms representing i.a. deficits of motor coordination, sequencing of complex motor acts and sensory integration. CSS were introduced as group of the neurological deficits of posture, gait, kinetic functions, eye movements and speech, associated more specifically to cerebellar abnormalities than NSS. Studies show significant effect size variability of those symptoms in BD group suggesting the existence of differing subpopulations. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of BD type, stage and the history of psychotic symptoms (HoPS) on the severity of CSS and NSS as none of the previous studies had verified the role of those categories.

METHODS

This study involved 181 participants: 116 euthymic BD patients (66 BD I, 50 BD II) and 65 healthy controls (HC). CSS was assessed with the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale and NSS with Neurological Evaluation Scale. Patients were divided into early and late stage of the disorder according to Kapczinski's criteria. Rater was blind to patients' stage, type and HoPS.

RESULTS

Staging was related to vast majority of CSS and NSS scores. HoPS was related to oculomotor deficits. The effect of BD type was the least significant. Late stage BD showed more severe CSS and NSS than HC in every measure. There were no differences between early stage BD and HC, apart of posture and gait disturbances. Except of sensory integration scores, late stage BD showed higher CSS and NSS rates than early stage patients.

CONCLUSION

In this hitherto the largest study of neurological abnormalities in BD we have shown significant role of staging in CSS and NSS severity. Progression criteria based on inter-episode psychosocial functioning may stand as unrecognised factor responsible for variability observed in previous studies evaluating neurological abnormalities in BD. Our study suggests that in clinical practice NSS and CSS may be potentially used as easy-to-assess biological marker of BD staging. Observed severity of neurological impairments of BD patients may more likely correspond to the disease progression than to BD type and HoPS.

Functional correlates of neurological soft signs in heavy cannabis users

Sensorimotor dysfunction has been previously reported in persons with cannabis dependence. Such individuals can exhibit increased levels of neurological soft signs (NSS), particularly involving motor coordination, sensorimotor integration and complex motor task performance. Abnormal NSS levels can also be detected in non-dependent individuals with heavy cannabis use (HCU), yet very little is known about the functional correlates underlying such deficits. Here, we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate associations between NSS and intrinsic neural activity (INA) in HCU (n = 21) and controls (n = 26). Compared with controls, individuals with HCU showed significantly higher NSS across all investigated subdomains. Three of these subdomains, that is, motor coordination, sensorimotor integration and complex motor task behaviour, were associated with specific use-dependent variables, particularly age of onset of cannabis use and current cannabis use. Between-group comparisons of INA revealed lower regional homogeneity (ReHo) in left precentral gyrus, left inferior occipital gyrus, right triangular pat of the inferior frontal gyrus and right precentral gyrus in HCU compared with controls. In addition, HCU showed also higher ReHo in right cerebellum and left postcentral gyrus compared with controls. Complex motor task behaviour in HCU was significantly related to INA in postcentral, inferior frontal and occipital cortices. Our findings indicate abnormal ReHo in HCU in regions associated with sensorimotor, executive control and visuomotor-integration processes. Importantly, we show associations between ReHo, cannabis-use behaviour and execution of complex motor tasks. Given convergent findings in manifest psychotic disorders, this study suggests an HCU endophenotype that may present with a cumulative risk for psychosis.

A Comprehensive Analysis of Cerebellar Volumes in the 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome

BACKGROUND

The presence of a 22q11.2 microdeletion (22q11.2 deletion syndrome [22q11DS]) ranks among the greatest known genetic risk factors for the development of psychotic disorders. There is emerging evidence that the cerebellum is important in the pathophysiology of psychosis. However, there is currently limited information on cerebellar neuroanatomy in 22q11DS specifically.

METHODS

High-resolution 3T magnetic resonance imaging was acquired in 79 individuals with 22q11DS and 70 typically developing control subjects (N = 149). Lobar and lobule-level cerebellar volumes were estimated using validated automated segmentation algorithms, and subsequently group differences were compared. Hierarchical clustering, principal component analysis, and graph theoretical models were used to explore intercerebellar relationships. Cerebrocerebellar structural connectivity with cortical thickness was examined via linear regression models.

RESULTS

Individuals with 22q11DS had, on average, 17.3% smaller total cerebellar volumes relative to typically developing subjects (p < .0001). The lobules of the superior posterior cerebellum (e.g., VII and VIII) were particularly affected in 22q11DS. However, all cerebellar lobules were significantly smaller, even after adjusting for total brain volumes (all cerebellar lobules p < .0002). The superior posterior lobule was disproportionately associated with cortical thickness in the frontal lobes and cingulate cortex, brain regions known be affected in 22q11DS. Exploratory analyses suggested that the superior posterior lobule, particularly Crus I, may be associated with psychotic symptoms in 22q11DS.

CONCLUSIONS

The cerebellum is a critical but understudied component of the 22q11DS neuroendophenotype.

Cerebellar correlates of social dysfunction among individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis

Introduction

Social deficits are a significant feature among both individuals with psychosis and those at clinical high-risk (CHR) for developing psychosis. Critically, the psychosis risk syndrome emerges in adolescence and young adulthood, when social skill development is being fine-tuned. Yet, the underlying pathophysiology of social deficits in individuals at CHR for psychosis remains unclear. Literature suggests the cerebellum plays a critical role in social functioning. Cerebellar dysfunction in psychosis and CHR individuals is well-established, yet limited research has examined links between the cerebellum and social functioning deficits in this critical population.

Method

In the current study, 68 individuals at CHR for developing psychosis and 66 healthy controls (HCs) completed social processing measures (examining social interaction, social cognition, and global social functioning) and resting-state MRI scans. Seed-to-voxel resting-state connectivity analyses were employed to examine the relationship between social deficits and lobular cerebellar network connectivity.

Results

Analyses indicated that within the CHR group, each social domain variable was linked to reduced connectivity between social cerebellar subregions (e.g., Crus II, lobules VIIIa and VIIIb) and cortical regions (e.g., frontal pole and frontal gyrus), but a control cerebellar subregion (e.g., lobule X) and was unrelated to these social variables.

Discussion

These results indicate an association between several cerebellar lobules and specific deficits in social processing. The cerebellum, therefore, may be particularly salient to the social domain and future research is need to examine the role of the cerebellum in psychosis.

Differences in Cerebellar Volume as a Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker in Children and Adolescents With Epilepsy of Unknown Etiology

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE

Epilepsy is one of the most common brain diseases during childhood and adolescence. Atrophy in different brain areas is possible during epilepsy. This study aimed to verify whether cerebellar volume differences could be detected by volume analysis using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in children with epilepsy.

METHOD

In this retrospective study, 41 children (3.1-18.8 years) with epilepsy of unknown etiology were included (duration of epilepsy 1.9 ± 3 years). A cranial MRI with a volumetric 3-dimensional, T₁-weighted sequence was used for volume analysis. The MRIs of 26 patients with headache (5.3-17.1 years) were analyzed for comparison. A volume analysis of the cerebellum was performed using region-based morphometry. Total cerebellar volume, total white and gray matter volume, and 48 regional lobules (L), separated into white and gray matter, were calculated. Cerebellar volumes are presented in relative ratios as the volume fraction of cerebellar volume to total intracranial volume: CV/TIV.

RESULTS

The ratio of overall white matter volume was significantly lower in the case group (23.93 × 10^-3, P = .039). A significantly lower ratio of regional white matter volume was detected in LV right (P = .031) and left (P = .014), in LVIIIB right (P = .011) and left (P = .019), and in LVIIIA left (P = .009).

CONCLUSION

Our results emphasize that volume analysis of the total cerebellar volume alone is insufficient to characterize cerebellar differences in children with epilepsy. Rather, in specific cerebellar region volume analysis using region-based morphometry, children with epilepsy showed significantly lower regional volumes of lobules, which are important for sensorimotor function (LV, LVIII) and higher cognitive function (crus I).

Don't forget the little brain: A framework for incorporating the cerebellum into the understanding of cognitive aging

With the rapidly growing population of older adults, an improved understanding of brain and cognitive aging is critical, given the impacts on health, independence, and quality of life. To this point, we have a well-developed literature on the cortical contributions to cognition in advanced age. However, while this work has been foundational for our understanding of brain and behavior in older adults, subcortical contributions, particularly those from the cerebellum, have not been integrated into these models and frameworks. Incorporating the cerebellum into models of cognitive aging is an important step for moving the field forward. There has also been recent interest in this structure in Alzheimer's dementia, indicating that such work may be beneficial to our understanding of neurodegenerative disease. Here, I provide an updated overview of the cerebellum in advanced age and propose that it serves as a critical source of scaffolding or reserve for cortical function. Age-related impacts on cerebellar function further impact cortical processing, perhaps resulting in many of the activation patterns commonly seen in aging.

The neural substrates of neurological soft signs in schizophrenia: a systematic review

Neurological soft signs (NSS) are common in patients with schizophrenia. However, the neural substrates of NSS remain poorly understood. Using legacy PubMed, we performed a systematic review and included studies that assessed NSS and obtained neuroimaging data in patients with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder published up to June 2020. We systematically reviewed 35 relevant articles. Studies consistently implicate the basal ganglia and cerebellum as structural substrates of NSS and suggest that somatomotor and somatosensory regions as well as areas involved in visual processing and spatial orientation may underlie NSS in psychosis spectrum disorders. Additionally, dysfunction of frontoparietal and cerebellar networks has been implicated in the pathophysiology of NSS. The current literature outlines several structural and functional brain signatures that are relevant for NSS in schizophrenia spectrum disorder. The majority of studies assessed gray matter structure, but only a few studies leveraged other imaging methods such as diffusion weighted imaging, or molecular imaging. Due to this, it remains unclear if white matter integrity deficits or neurometabolic alterations contribute to NSS in the illness. While a substantial portion of the literature has been conducted in patients in the early illness stages, mitigating confounds of illness chronicity, few studies have been conducted in antipsychotic medication-naïve patients, which is a clear limitation. Furthermore, only little is known about the temporal evolution of NSS and associated brain signatures. Future studies addressing these pivotal gaps in our mechanistic understanding of NSS will be important.

Relationship between neurological and cerebellar soft signs, and implicit motor learning in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

BACKGROUND

Schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) patients share deficits in motor functions in the form of neurological (NSS) and cerebellar soft signs (CSS), and implicit motor learning disturbances. Here, we use cluster analysis method to assess (1) the relationship between those abnormalities in SZ and BD and (2) the differences between those groups.

METHODS

33 SZ patients, 33 BD patients as well as 31 healthy controls (HC) took part in the study. We assessed CSS with the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) and NSS with the Neurological Evaluation Scale (NES). Implicit motor learning was evaluated with the Serial Reaction Time Task (SRTT). Participants were divided into clusters (Ward's method) based on the mean response time and mean error rate in SRTT. The difference in ICARS and NES scores, and SRTT variables between clusters were evaluated. We have measured associations between SRTT parameters and both ICARS and NES total scores and subscores.

RESULTS

Cluster analysis based on the SRTT parameters allowed to extract three clusters. Those were characterized by the increasing disruption of motor functioning (psychomotor retardation, the severity of NSS and CSS) regardless of the diagnosis. Cluster 1 covered almost all of HC and was characterized by faster reaction times and small number of errors. BD and SZ patients represented in cluster 1, although fully functional in performing the SRTT, showed higher rates of NSS and CSS. Patients with BD and SZ were set apart in clusters 2 and 3 in a similar proportion. Cluster 2 presented significantly slower reaction times but with the comparable number of errors to cluster 1. Cluster 3 consisted of participants with normal or decreased reaction time and significantly increased number of errors. None of the clusters were predominantly composed of the patients representing one psychiatric diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

To our best knowledge, we are presenting the first data indicating the relationship between implicit motor learning and NSS and CSS in SZ and BD patients' groups. Lack of clusters predominantly represented by patients with the diagnosis of SZ or BD may refer to the model of schizophrenia-bipolar disorder boundary, pointing out the similarities between those two disorders.

Motor Skill, Motor Planning, and Motor Performance in Adults with Severe Mental Illnesses and Obesity

Motor functioning in persons with serious mental illness (SMI) is not well studied. We assessed motor functioning in people with SMI (n = 15) vs. adults with obesity (n = 15) and healthy controls (n = 15). Motor skills were assessed using balance and coordination tests. Motor planning and performance were assessed in Obstacle and Metronome Walking Tasks. The SMI group scored lower on balance and coordination tests (all ps < 0.001), and took longer steps when approaching obstacles (all ps < 0.001), but had unimpaired motor performance on the Metronome Walking Task. In obesity, excess body mass impairs motor skills, which adversely impacts motor performance. In persons with SMI, motor performance was unimpaired, with cognitive and neuroanatomical abnormalities likely underlying balance, coordination, and motor skill challenges.

Investigation of structural brain correlates of neurological soft signs in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis

Increased severity of neurological soft signs (NSS) in schizophrenia have been associated with abnormal brain morphology in cerebello-thalamo-cortical structures, but it is unclear whether similar structures underlie NSS prior to the onset of psychosis. The present study investigated the relationship between severity of NSS and grey matter volume (GMV) in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR) stratified for later conversion to psychosis. Structural T1-weighted MRI scans were obtained from 56 antipsychotic-naïve UHR individuals and 35 healthy controls (HC). The UHR individuals had follow-up data (mean follow-up: 5.2 years) to ascertain clinical outcome. Using whole-brain voxel-based morphometry, the relationship between NSS and GMV at baseline was assessed in UHR, HC, as well as individuals who later transitioned (UHR-P, n = 25) and did not transition (UHR-NP, n = 31) to psychosis. NSS total and subscale scores except motor coordination were significantly higher in UHR compared to HC. Higher signs were also found in UHR-P, but not UHR-NP. Total NSS was not associated with GMV in the whole sample or in each group. However, in UHR-P individuals, greater deficits in sensory integration was associated with lower GMV in the left cerebellum, right insula, and right middle frontal gyrus. In conclusion, NSS are present in UHR individuals, particularly those who later transitioned to a psychotic disorder. While these signs show little overall variation with GMV, the association of sensory integration deficits with lower GMV in UHR-P suggests that certain brain areas may be implicated in the development of specific neurological abnormalities in the psychosis prodrome.

Structural correlates of sensorimotor dysfunction in heavy cannabis users

Sensorimotor dysfunction has been previously reported in persons with cannabis dependence. Such individuals can exhibit increased levels of neurological soft signs (NSS), particularly involving motor coordination and sensorimotor integration. Whether such abnormalities may also apply to non-dependent individuals with heavy cannabis use (HCU) is unknown, as much as the neural correlates underlying such deficits. In this study, we investigated associations between NSS and gray matter volume (GMV) in males with HCU and male controls. Twenty-four persons with HCU and 17 controls were examined using standardized assessment of NSS and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 3 T. GMV was calculated using voxel-based morphometry algorithms provided by the Computational Anatomy Toolbox (CAT12). Individuals with HCU showed higher NSS total scores compared to controls. In particular, significant NSS-subdomain effects were found for "motor coordination" (MoCo), "complex motor tasks" (CoMT), and "hard signs" (HS) expression in HCU (p < 0.05, Bonferroni-corrected). Compared to controls, persons with HCU showed significant NSS/GMV interactions in putamen and inferior frontal cortex (MoCo), right cerebellum (CoMT) and middle and superior frontal cortices, and bilateral precentral cortex and thalamus (HS). In between-group analyses, individuals with HCU showed lower GMV in the right anterior orbital and precentral gyrus, as well as higher GMV in the right superior frontal gyrus and left supplementary motor cortex compared to controls. The data support the notion of abnormal sensorimotor performance associated with HCU. The data also provide a neuromechanistic understanding of such deficits, particularly with respect to aberrant cortical-thalamic-cerebellar-cortical circuit.

Altered functional connectivity of the dentate nuclei in patients with schizophrenia

Dentate nuclei (DN) are vital structures in the anatomical circuits that link the cerebellum to the cerebrum. However, the characteristics of DN functional connectivity (FC) in schizophrenia remain largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the FC of the DN in patients with schizophrenia and examined their possible clinical correlates using resting-state functional magnetic imaging data. We found that the patient group had greater DN FC with the parietal lobe (e.g., postcentral gyrus and superior parietal lobule) and less DN FC with the prefrontal cortex (e.g., superior frontal gyrus), posterior cingulate cortex, and regional cerebellum (e.g., vermis 4-5 and crus I) than did the control group. Furthermore, some abnormal connectivities of the DN with these regions significantly correlated with psychiatric symptoms. These results suggest that the DN circuits are disturbed and may participate in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.

Neurological Soft Signs (NSS) in Census-Based, Decade-Adjusted Healthy Adults, 20 to >70 Years of Age

Neurological soft signs (NSS) represent minor neurological features and have been widely studied in psychiatric disease. The assessment is easily performed. Quantity and quality may provide useful information concerning the disease course. Mostly, NSS scores differ significantly between patients and controls. However, literature does not give reference values. In this pilot study, we recruited 120 healthy women and men to build a cross-sectional, census-based sample of healthy individuals, aged 20 to >70 years, subdivided in 10-year blocks for a close approach to the human lifeline. Testing for NSS and neurocognitive functioning was performed following the exclusion of mental and severe physical illness. NSS scores increased significantly between ages 50+ and 60+, which was primarily accountable to motor signs. Gender and cognitive functioning were not related to changes of scores. Although the number of individuals is small, study results may lay a foundation for further validation of NSS in healthy individuals.

Design-based stereological study of the guinea-pig (Cavia porcellus) cerebellum

Guinea pigs have proved useful as experimental animal models in studying cerebellar anatomical and structural alterations in human neurological disease; however, they are also currently acquiring increasing veterinary interest as companion animals. The morphometric features of the normal cerebellum in guinea pigs have not been previously investigated using stereology. The objective of the present work was to establish normal volumetric and quantitative stereological parameters for cerebellar tissues in guinea pigs, by means of unbiased design-based stereology. Cerebellar total volume, gray and white matter volume fractions, molecular and granular layers volume fractions, cerebellar surface area, Purkinje cellular and nuclear volumes, and the Purkinje cell total count were stereologically estimated. For this purpose, cerebellar hemispheres from six adult male guinea pigs were employed. Isotropic, uniform random sections were obtained by applying the orientator method, and subsequently processed for light microscopy. The cerebellar total volume, the white and grey matter volume fractions, and the molecular and granular layer volumes were estimated using the Cavalieri's principle and the point counting system. The cerebellar surface area was estimated through the use of test lines; Purkinje cellular and nuclear volumes were analysed using the nucleator technique, whereas the Purkinje cell total count was obtained by means of the optical disector technique. The mean ± standard deviation total volume of a guinea-pig cerebellar hemisphere was 0.11 ± 0.01 cm³ . The mean volumetric proportions occupied by the gray and white matters were, respectively, 78.0 ± 2.6% and 22.0 ± 2.6%, whereas their mean absolute volumes were found to be 0.21 ± 0.02 cm³ and 0.059 ± 0.006 cm³ . The volumes of the molecular and granular layers were estimated at 112.4 ± 20.6 mm³ and 104.4 ± 7.3 mm³ , whereas their mean thicknesses were calculated to be 0.184 ± 0.020 mm and 0.17 ± 0.02 mm. The molecular and granular layers accounted for 40.7 ± 3.9% and 37.4 ± 1.8% of total cerebellar volume respectively. The surface area of the cerebellum measured 611.4 ± 96.8 mm² . Purkinje cells with a cellular volume of 3210.1 µm³ and with a nuclear volume of 470.9 µm³ had a higher incidence of occurrence. The mean total number of Purkinje cells for a cerebellar hemisphere was calculated to be 253,090 ± 34,754. The morphometric data emerging from the present study provide a set of reference data which might prove valuable as basic anatomical contribution for practical applications in veterinary neurology.

Investigating cerebellar neural function in schizophrenia using delay eyeblink conditioning: A pilot fMRI study

There is accruing evidence of cerebellar abnormalities in individuals with schizophrenia as measured by performance on a variety of tasks believed to be dependent on cerebellar integrity, including delay eyeblink conditioning. There is also evidence of cerebellar dysfunction on a neural level in schizophrenia from both task-based and resting state neuroimaging studies, however few studies have examined cerebellar neural function while the cerebellum is directly recruited in individuals with schizophrenia. In the current pilot study, we examined neural activity during an explicitly cerebellar task in individuals with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and non-psychiatric controls. Participants underwent delay eyeblink conditioning during fMRI. Results indicated eyeblink conditioning impairment in patients as evidenced by a group by time interaction for conditioned responses. A significant cluster of cerebellar activation was present in controls but not patients during the first half of conditioning; there were no significant differences in activation between groups. An ROI analysis focused on the cerebellum in patients revealed two significant clusters that were inversely associated with negative symptom severity. These results are broadly consistent with the theory of cognitive dysmetria, wherein cerebellar abnormalities are theorized to contribute to motor as well as cognitive and affective disturbances in schizophrenia.

Neurological Soft Signs and Brain Abnormalities in Schizophrenia: A Literature Review

Neurological soft signs (NSS) are subtle neurological impairments in sensory integration, motor coordination, balance, and sequencing of complex motor acts. The prevalence of NSS is well over 50% in schizophrenic patients compared to about 5% in healthy controls. About 30% of schizophrenia patients are resistant to treatment. The main reason for not finding better pharmaceutical agents is the inability to elicit the underlying neurophysiological and neuroanatomical basis of schizophrenia. The most common NSS can be divided into three domains: motor coordination, sequencing of complex motor acts, and sensory integration. Here, the neuroimaging correlates of the abovementioned NSS are reviewed. Most of the studies found a negative correlation of NSS subs cores motor coordination and complex motor tasks with the cerebellum, inferior frontal gyrus, and postcentral gyrus. There was a negative correlation between cortical thickness and NSS total scores in the left paracentral lobule, precuneus, middle frontal cortex, right inferior temporal cortex, left/right superior parietal cortex. Instead of considering NSS as a mere trait or state markers, its active inclusion in patient management is required to improve patients' quality of life. Future studies on larger cohorts, combining different imaging modalities are needed to elucidate how these factors might relate to each other and contribute to NSS. 

Neurological soft signs (NSS) and brain morphology in patients with chronic schizophrenia and healthy controls

Subtle abnormalities in sensory integration, motor coordination and sequencing of complex motor acts or neurological soft signs (NSS) are characteristic phenomena in patients with schizophrenia at any stage of the illness. Previous MRI studies in schizophrenia found NSS to be associated with cortical, thalamic and cerebellar changes. Since these studies mainly focused on first-episode or recent onset schizophrenia, the cerebral correlates of NSS in chronic schizophrenia remained rather unclear. 49 middle-aged patients with chronic schizophrenia with a mean duration of illness of 20.3 ± 14.0 years and 29 healthy subjects matched for age and sex were included. NSS were examined on the Heidelberg Scale and correlated to grey matter (GM) by using whole brain high resolution magnetic resonance imaging (3 Tesla) with SPM12/CAT12 analyses. As expected, NSS in patients were significantly (p≤0.001) elevated in contrast to healthy controls, a finding, which not only applied to NSS total score, but also to the respective subscales "motor coordination", "sensory integration", "complex motor tasks", "right/left and spatial orientation" and "hard signs". Within the patient group NSS total scores were significantly correlated to reduced GM in right lingual gyrus, left parahippocampal gyrus, left superior temporal gyrus, left thalamus (medial dorsal nucleus) and left posterior lobe of the cerebellum (declive). Respective negative associations could also be revealed for the subscales "motor coordination", "complex motor tasks" and "right/left and spatial orientation". These findings remained significant after FWE-correction for multiple comparisons and were confirmed when years of education, chlorpromazine-equivalents or variables indicating the severity of psychopathology were introduced as additional covariates. According to our results lingual, parahippocampal, superior temporal, inferior and middle frontal gyri, thalamus and cerebellum have to be considered as important sites of NSS in chronic schizophrenia. That these findings only applied for patients but not healthy controls may indicate a different pathogenesis of NSS.

Neurological Soft Signs and Brain Network Abnormalities in Schizophrenia

Neurological soft signs (NSS) are often found in patients with schizophrenia. A wealth of neuroimaging studies have reported that NSS are related to disturbed cortical-subcortical-cerebellar circuitry in schizophrenia. However, the association between NSS and brain network abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia remains unclear. In this study, the graph theoretical approach was used to analyze brain network characteristics based on structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. NSS were assessed using the Heidelberg scale. We found that there was no significant difference in global network properties between individuals with high and low levels of NSS. Regional network analysis showed that NSS were associated with betweenness centrality involving the inferior orbital frontal cortex, the middle temporal cortex, the hippocampus, the supramarginal cortex, the amygdala, and the cerebellum. Global network analysis also demonstrated that NSS were associated with the distribution of network hubs involving the superior medial frontal cortex, the superior and middle temporal cortices, the postcentral cortex, the amygdala, and the cerebellum. Our findings suggest that NSS are associated with alterations in topological attributes of brain networks corresponding to the cortical-subcortical-cerebellum circuit in patients with schizophrenia, which may provide a new perspective for elucidating the neural basis of NSS in schizophrenia.

Neurocognitive profile of a man with Dandy-Walker malformation: Evidence of subtle cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome

Background: The Dandy-Walker Malformation (DWM) is a congenital birth malformation that is characterized by a triad of features: cerebellar dysgenesis, cystic dilation of the fourth ventricle, and an enlarged posterior fossa that displaces the dural sinuses and the tentorium. Despite this defining triad, clinical presentation can be highly heterogeneous in part due to severity of structural changes. To date, there been limited consideration of cognitive-behavioral symptoms of DWM in relation to nonmotor functions of the cerebellum, specifically cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome (CCAS).Method: In this case study, we describe the neuropsychological and behavioral profile of a 48-year-old man with DWM who was seen due to concerns, expressed solely by the patient's father, about his son's atypical housing, employment and social skills.Results: Neuropsychological test findings revealed high average intellect on standard intellectual measures (WAIS-IV), with stronger verbal (superior) than perceptual reasoning (average) skills. Across all cognitive domains, performance was generally within expectations, although bilateral fine motor skills were impaired. In contrast, he exhibited weaknesses on nontraditional neuropsychological measures assessing orbitofrontal-limbic circuitry, including reward sensitivity decision making and indices of threat-related emotional physiology.Conclusions: Through the use of traditional and nontraditional neuropsychological measures, subtle cognitive weaknesses in fronto-executive and affective regulation were illuminated and likely explain the patient's functional difficulties. Etiologically, these findings are consistent with the nonmotor functions of the cerebellum as described by CCAS.

The importance of volume and area fractions of cerebellar volume and vermian subregion areas: a stereological study on MR images

PURPOSE

Age, gender, and body size are important factors which are affecting the cerebellar volume (CV). Many neurological diseases lead changes in CV. The aim of this study is to measure CV and the total intracranial volume (TIV) for both genders on magnetic resonance images (MRI), to calculate the CV/TIV volume fraction, and also to determine the normal values that can be regarded clinically significant by determining the total vermis area and vermian subregion areas (V1, V2, and V3).

METHODS

In this retrospective study, MR images (without any pathological findings) of 200 individuals (100 female, 100 male) between the ages of 20-40 were used. CV and CV/TIV volume fractions, vermian subregion areas, and area fractions were calculated by using the Stereoinvestigator 8.0 (Microbrightfield, USA) software. The volumetric calculations were performed by the point counting method according to the Cavalieri principle, which is one of the volume calculation methods in stereology. Total CV, TIV, cerebellar vermis areas (V1, V2, and V3), and total cerebellum area were measured separately for both groups.

RESULTS

The volume of cerebellum was 120.53 ± 11.1 cm³ in males, 105.99 ± 11.2 cm³ in females, TIV was 1304.99 ± 91.7 cm³ in males and 1155.15 ± 85.7 cm³ in females. CV and TIV were statistically higher in males (p = 0.001, p = 0.001 respectively). It was observed that the differences between the genders in terms of CV/TIV disappeared (p = 0.679). The total vermis area was 11.59 ± 1.3 cm² in males and 10.85 ± 1.3 cm² in females. V1 area, V3 area, and the total vermis area were found statistically higher in males (p = 0.05, p = 0.006, p = 0.007 respectively). It was determined that the area fraction of V2 was higher in females when the fractions of V1, V2, and V3 to the total vermis area were examined (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

We believe that the normal values of CV, TIV, and vermian subregion areas, determined by stereological method, will contribute to the diagnosis and the treatment plan of the clinical pathological evaluations in adults and children.

A Peptide Link Between Human Cytomegalovirus Infection, Neuronal Migration, and Psychosis

Alongside biological, psychological, and social risk factors, psychotic syndromes may be related to disturbances of neuronal migration. This highly complex process characterizes the developing brain of the fetus, the early postnatal brain, and the adult brain, as reflected by changes within the subventricular zone and the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, where neurogenesis persists throughout life. Psychosis also appears to be linked to human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection. However, little is known about the connection between psychosis, HCMV infection, and disruption of neuronal migration. The present study addresses the hypothesis that HCMV infection may lead to mental disorders through mechanisms of autoimmune cross-reactivity. Searching for common peptides that underlie immune cross-reactions, the analyses focus on HCMV and human proteins involved in neuronal migration. Results demonstrate a large overlap of viral peptides with human proteins associated with neuronal migration, such as ventral anterior homeobox 1 and cell adhesion molecule 1 implicated in GABAergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission. The present findings support the possibility of immune cross-reactivity between HCMV and human proteins that-when altered, mutated, or improperly functioning-may disrupt normal neuronal migration. In addition, these findings are consistent with a molecular and mechanistic framework for pathological sequences of events, beginning with HCMV infection, followed by immune activation, cross-reactivity, and neuronal protein variations that may ultimately contribute to the emergence of mental disorders, including psychosis.

Associations between brain structural networks and neurological soft signs in healthy adults

Neurological soft signs (NSS), as minor neurological deficits, have been identified in several psychiatric disorders, especially in schizophrenia. However, it's unclear how the neuropathological processes of the disease affect NSS related brain morphological changes and whether it is confounded by the use of medication. As NSS also exist in healthy people, the potential confounding effects of psychopathology or medication will be excluded if NSS are investigated in healthy people. Therefore, we applied a novel multivariate approach, source-based morphometry (SBM), to study structural networks in relation to NSS in healthy adults based on structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. The Heidelberg Scale was applied to evaluate NSS. Using SBM, we constructed structural networks and investigated their associations with NSS in healthy adults. Six grey matter (GM) structural networks were identified. Sensory integration subscores were associated with the cerebellar component and the cortico-basal ganglia-thalamic component. Motor coordination subscores and total NSS scores were associated with the sensorimotor component. The present findings indicated that structural network abnormalities in cerebellar, subcortical and cortical sensorimotor areas contribute to NSS performance in healthy adults.

12-Month stability of neurological soft signs in stabilized patients with schizophrenia

Objective: Neurological soft signs (NSS) are a group of minor non-localizable neurological abnormalities found more often in patients with schizophrenia. The aim of the current study was to investigate their temporal stability and relationship to the overall outcome over a 12-month period. Material and methods: The study sample included 133 stabilized patients suffering from schizophrenia (77 males and 56 females; aged 33.55 ± 11.22 years old). The assessment included the application at baseline and after 12 months of the Neurological Evaluation Scale (NES), and a number of scales assessing the clinical symptoms and adverse effects. The statistical analysis included ANOVA, exploratory t-test and Pearson correlation coefficients with Bonferroni correction. Results: In stabilized patients, NSS are stable over a 12-month period with only the subscale of NES-sensory integration manifesting a significant worsening, while, in contrast, most of the clinical variables improved significantly. There was no relationship of NES scores with the magnitude of improvement. The only significant negative correlation was between NES-motor coordination and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale-GP change at 1 year. Discussion: The results of the current study suggest that after stabilization of patients with schizophrenia, there are probably two separate components, a 'trait' which is stable over a 12-month period, and a 'degenerative' component with a tendency to worsen probably in parallel with the progression of the illness and in correlation with the worsening of negative symptoms. However, the statistical support of the 'degenerative' component is weak. Significant outcomes Neurological softs signs are stable over a 12-month period, with the exception of 'sensory integration' which manifests significant improvement irrespective of treatment response. They do not respond to treatment with antipsychotics. They do not constitute a prognostic factor to predict improvement over a period of 1 year. Neurological soft signs constitute a trait symptom of schizophrenia which is stable though time. Limitations All the subjects have been previously hospitalized which may represent a more severe form of schizophrenia. Also, all patients were under antipsychotic and some also under benzodiazepine medications. Patients with comorbid somatic disorders were excluded which may decrease generalizability of results.

Patterns of co-altered brain structure and function underlying neurological soft signs in schizophrenia spectrum disorders

Neurological soft signs (NSS) comprise a broad range of subtle neurological deficits and are considered to represent external markers of sensorimotor dysfunction frequently found in mental disorders of presumed neurodevelopmental origin. Although NSS frequently occur in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD), specific patterns of co-altered brain structure and function underlying NSS in SSD have not been investigated so far. It is unclear whether gray matter volume (GMV) alterations or aberrant brain activity or a combination of both, are associated with NSS in SSD. Here, 37 right-handed SSD patients and 37 matched healthy controls underwent motor assessment and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 3 T. NSS were examined on the Heidelberg NSS scale. We used a multivariate data fusion technique for multimodal MRI data-multiset canonical correlation and joint independent component analysis (mCCA + jICA)-to investigate co-altered patterns of GMV and intrinsic neural fluctuations (INF) in SSD patients exhibiting NSS. The mCCA + jICA model indicated two joint group-discriminating components (temporoparietal/cortical sensorimotor and frontocerebellar/frontoparietal networks) and one modality-specific group-discriminating component (p < .05, FDR corrected). NSS motor score was associated with joint frontocerebellar/frontoparietal networks in SSD patients. This study highlights complex neural pathomechanisms underlying NSS in SSD suggesting aberrant structure and function, predominantly in cortical and cerebellar systems that critically subserve sensorimotor dynamics and psychomotor organization.

Cerebellar modulation of the reward circuitry and social behavior

The cerebellum has been implicated in a number of nonmotor mental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, and addiction. However, its contribution to these disorders is not well understood. In mice, we found that the cerebellum sends direct excitatory projections to the ventral tegmental area (VTA), one of the brain regions that processes and encodes reward. Optogenetic activation of the cerebello-VTA projections was rewarding and, in a three-chamber social task, these projections were more active when the animal explored the social chamber. Intriguingly, activity in the cerebello-VTA pathway was required for the mice to show social preference in this task. Our data delineate a major, previously unappreciated role for the cerebellum in controlling the reward circuitry and social behavior.

Altered resting-state functional connectivity of the cerebellum in schizophrenia

Structural and functional abnormalities of the cerebellum in schizophrenia have been reported. Most previous studies investigating resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) have relied on a priori restrictions on seed regions or specific networks, which may bias observations. In this study, we aimed to elicit the connectivity alterations of the cerebellum in schizophrenia in a hypothesis-free approach. Ninety-five schizophrenia patients and 93 sex- and age-matched healthy controls underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). A voxel-wise data-driven method, resting-state functional connectivity density (rsFCD), was used to investigate cerebellar connectivity changes in schizophrenia patients. Regions with altered rsFCD were chosen as seeds to perform seed-based resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) analyses. We found that schizophrenia patients exhibited decreased rsFCD in the right hemispheric VI; moreover, this cerebellar region showed increased rsFC with the prefrontal cortex and subcortical nuclei and decreased rsFC with the visual cortex and sensorimotor cortex. In addition, some rsFC changes were associated with positive symptoms. These findings suggest that abnormalities of the cerebellar hub and cerebellar-subcortical-cortical loop may be the underlying mechanisms of schizophrenia.

Variation in fourteen brain structure volumes in schizophrenia: A comprehensive meta-analysis of 246 studies

Despite hundreds of structural MRI studies documenting smaller brain volumes on average in schizophrenia compared to controls, little attention has been paid to group differences in the variability of brain volumes. Examination of variability may help interpret mean group differences in brain volumes and aid in better understanding the heterogeneity of schizophrenia. Variability in 246 MRI studies was meta-analyzed for 13 structures that have shown medium to large mean effect sizes (Cohen's d≥0.4): intracranial volume, total brain volume, lateral ventricles, third ventricle, total gray matter, frontal gray matter, prefrontal gray matter, temporal gray matter, superior temporal gyrus gray matter, planum temporale, hippocampus, fusiform gyrus, insula; and a control structure, caudate nucleus. No significant differences in variability in cortical/subcortical volumes were detected in schizophrenia relative to controls. In contrast, increased variability was found in schizophrenia compared to controls for intracranial and especially lateral and third ventricle volumes. These findings highlight the need for more attention to ventricles and detailed analyses of brain volume distributions to better elucidate the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.

Neurological soft signs in familial and sporadic schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE

Neurological soft signs (NSS) are a group of minor non-localizable neurological abnormalities found more often in patients with schizophrenia. The aim of the current study was investigate whether there is any difference in their manifestation in familial vs. sporadic schizophrenia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study sample included 120 patients suffering from schizophrenia according to DSM-5 (71 males and 49 females; aged 32.79 ± 11.11 years old) and 110 normal controls (57 males and 53 females; aged 33.38 ± 10.14 years old). The assessment included the Neurological Evaluation Scale (NES) and the detailed investigation family history. The statistical analysis included exploratory Analysis of Covariance.

RESULTS

The results of the current study suggest that NSS are more frequent in familial cases of schizophrenia and are even more pronounced in cases with family history of psychosis in either first or second degree relatives.

DISCUSSION

Overall the results suggest the presence of a spectrum of increasing severity from healthy controls to sporadic cases, to cases with non-psychotic family history and eventually to cases with psychotic family history, rather than a categorical distribution.

Neurological soft signs and grey matter abnormalities in individuals with ultra-high risk for psychosis

Neurological soft signs (NSSs), conventionally defined as subtle neurological abnormalities, are frequently found in individuals with schizophrenia. Many neuroimaging studies have also reported that NSSs are associated with grey matter changes in patients with schizophrenia at different stages of the illness. However, these findings may be confounded by the effect of antipsychotic medications, chronicity, and duration of untreated psychosis. Examining NSSs in individuals with ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis may help to identify the neuroanatomical substrates of NSSs related to the illness itself and to avoid these potential confounding effects. A sample of 21 individuals with UHR were included in the present study. NSSs were rated using the abridged version of the Cambridge Neurological Inventory. Grey matter volume was assessed using optimized voxel-based morphometry on images acquired by a high-resolution 3-T magnetic resonance imaging scanner. We found that higher NSS scores in individuals with UHR were associated with decreased grey matter volume at the superior and medial frontal cortex, the rectal cortex, the pre- and post-central cortex, the insula, the caudate, and the cerebellum. Our results suggest that these brain structural characteristics may represent the neuroanatomical substrate of NSSs in individuals with UHR. These findings contribute to the understanding of the intrinsic features of psychosis associated with NSSs and may provide insights into pre-schizophrenia pathophysiology.

Association between neurological soft signs and antioxidant enzyme activity in schizophrenic patients

To determine the relationship between alterations in the activity of the enzymes participating in antioxidative defense system and neurological soft signs (NSS) in schizophrenic patients with the first episode psychosis (S_FE, n = 19), patients in relapse (S_R, n = 46), and healthy controls (HC, n = 20). NSS intensity and enzymatic plasma activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) were compared between S_FE, S_R and HC subjects and a follow-up correlation analyses between the enzyme activities and NSS intensity was performed. NSS intensity was increased four times in schizophrenic patients compared with healthy controls. Activities of SOD and CAT were 40% decreased in S_FE and these reductions were ameliorated by antipsychotic treatment. GPX activity was 20% decreased in both patient groups compared with controls. A negative correlation between NSS intensity and GPX activity was specifically found in the S_FE patients. The data in this report argue that a reduction of GPX activity might be one of the causes for the emergence of NSS at the onset of schizophrenia, and provide the evidence that antipsychotic therapy can attenuate activity reductions of SOD and CAT, but not the activity reduction of GPX and the intensity of NSS.

Cerebellar volume in early-onset schizophrenia and its association with severity of symptoms

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate whether early-onset schizophrenia (EOS) cases differ from controls regarding volumes of the total cerebellum and the right and left cerebellar hemispheres, and volumetric asymmetry. Correlations of cerebellar volumes and asymmetry indices with severity of symptoms and general functioning in cases of EOS were also assessed.

Methods

Adolescents with EOS (n = 23) were compared with controls (n = 23). Sociodemographic and clinical data, and magnetic resonance imaging scans that were acquired for routine clinical purposes were collected retrospectively. Cerebellar volumes were evaluated using the stereological method. Asymmetry indices were subsequently calculated. Scores of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and the Children’s Global Assessment Scale were used to assess the severity of symptoms and general functionality.

Results

There were no significant differences in any of the cerebellar volumes and asymmetry indices between the two groups. Neither cerebellar volumes nor asymmetry indices were correlated with the severity of symptoms and general functionality in EOS.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the early-onset form of schizophrenia does not show apparent volumetric changes of the cerebellum. Additionally, the neural circuits involved in formation of symptomatology may not reflect any correlation with cerebellar volumes at mid-adolescence.

Motor dysfunction as an intermediate phenotype across schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders: Progress and perspectives

Primary motor abnormalities (PMA), as found in patients with schizophrenia, are quantitatively and qualitatively distinct markers of motor system abnormalities. PMA have been often referred to phenomena that are present across schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. A dysfunction of frontoparietal and subcortical networks has been proposed as core pathophysiological mechanism underlying the expression of PMA. However, it is unclear at present if such mechanisms are a common within schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. To address this question, we review recent neuroimaging studies investigating the neural substrates of PMA in schizophrenia and so-called "nonschizophrenic nonaffective psychoses" (NSNAP) such as schizophreniform, schizoaffective, brief psychotic, and other unspecified psychotic disorders. Although the extant data in patients with schizophrenia suggests that further investigation is warranted, MRI findings in NSNAP are less persuasive. It is unclear so far which PMA, if any, are characteristic features of NSNAP or, possibly even specific for these disorders. Preliminary data suggest a relationship between relapsing-remitting PMA in hyper-/hypokinetic cycloid syndromes and neurodegenerative disorders of the basal ganglia, likely reflecting the transnosological relevance of subcortical abnormalities. Despite this evidence, neural substrates and mechanisms underlying PMA that are common in schizophrenia and NSNAP cannot be clearly delineated at this stage of research. PMA and their underlying brain circuits could be promising intermediate phenotype candidates for psychotic disorders, but future multimodal neuroimaging studies in schizophrenia and NSNAP patients and their unaffected first-degree relatives are needed to answer fundamental transnosologic questions.

Prevalence and correlates of neurological soft signs in healthy controls without family history of any mental disorder: A neurodevelopmental variation rather than a specific risk factor?

OBJECTIVE

Neurological soft signs (NSS) are a group of minor non-localizable neurological abnormalities found more often in patients with schizophrenia and other mental disorders. The aim of the current study was to investigate their prevalence and correlates in healthy controls without family history of any mental disorder.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study sample included 122 normal subjects (66 males and 56 females; aged 32.89 ± 9.91 years old). The assessment included the Neurological Evaluation Scale (NES), and a number of scales assessing the subthreshold symptoms (MADRS, STAI) and functioning (GAF). Data on a number of socio-demographic variables were also gathered. The statistical analysis included the development of basic statistics tables and the calculation of Pearson correlation coefficients.

RESULTS

The results of the current study suggest that more than half of the study sample manifested at least one NSS and approximately 5% more than four. Still, the reported prevalence and NES scores are lower form those reported in the literature probably because of the carefully selected study sample. There were no significant correlations between NSS and any socio-demographic or clinical variable.

DISCUSSION

The current study is the first to study NSS in subjects without family history of any mental disorder and reports the presence of frequent silent neurodevelopmental events in the general population, probably in the form of a neurodevelopmental variation and possibly a weak generic rather than specific risk factor.

Neurological Soft Signs in Schizophrenia: An Update on the State- versus Trait-Perspective

BACKGROUND

Neurological soft signs (NSS) represent minor neurological signs, which indicate non-specific cerebral dysfunction. In schizophrenia, their presence has been documented extensively across all stages of the disease. Until recently, NSS were considered an endophenotype or a trait phenomenon. During the past years, however, researchers report fluctuations of the NSS scores.

AIMS

To further clarify the question whether NSS exhibit state or trait components or both, studies that have investigated NSS longitudinally were reviewed.

METHOD

Studies which have assessed NSS longitudinally in adults suffering from schizophrenia, were searched for. The time frame was January 1966 to June 2017. Studies on teenagers were excluded because of interferences between brain maturation and pathology.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine follow-up studies were identified. They included patients during different stages of their illness and mainly used established instruments for NSS assessment. Patients with a first episode or a remitting course predominantly show a decrease of NSS over time, whereas a worsening of NSS can be found in the chronically ill. It was shown that change of NSS total scores over time is predominantly caused by motor system subscales and to a lesser extent by sensory integration scales. With respect to medication, the majority of studies agree on a relationship between medication response and improvement of NSS while the type of antipsychotic does not seem to play a major role. Moreover, where information on side-effects is given, it does not favor a strong relationship with NSS. However, NSS seem to correlate with negative and cognitive symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Studies manifest a conformity regarding the presence of NSS in schizophrenia patients on the one hand. On the other hand, fluctuations of NSS scores have been widely described in subgroups. Taken together results strongly support a state-trait dichotomy of NSS. Thus, the usage of NSS as an endophenotype has to be called into question.

Imaging and Genetic Biomarkers Predicting Transition to Psychosis

The search for diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in schizophrenia care and treatment is the focus of many within the research community. Longitudinal cohorts of patients presenting at elevated genetic and clinical risk have provided a wealth of data that has informed our understanding of the development of schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders.Imaging follow-up of high-risk cohorts has demonstrated changes in cerebral grey matter of those that eventually transition to schizophrenia that predate the onset of symptoms and evolve over the course of illness. Longitudinal follow-up studies demonstrate that observed grey matter changes can be employed to differentiate those who will transition to schizophrenia from those who will not prior to the onset of the disorder.In recent years our understanding of the genetic makeup of schizophrenia has advanced significantly. The development of modern analysis techniques offers researchers the ability to objectively quantify genetic risk; these have been successfully applied within a high-risk paradigm to assist in differentiating between high-risk individuals who will subsequently become unwell and those who will not.This chapter will discuss the application of imaging and genetic biomarkers within high-risk groups to predict future transition to schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders. We aim to provide an overview of current approaches focussing on grey matter changes that are predictive of future transition to illness, the developing field of genetic risk scores and other methods being developed to aid clinicians in diagnosis and prognosis.

Cerebellar Structural Abnormalities Associated With Cognitive Function in Patients With First-Episode Psychosis

Introduction: The fundamental role of the cerebellum in higher cognitive processing has recently been highlighted. However, inconsistent findings exist in schizophrenia with respect to the exact nature of cerebellar structural abnormalities and their associations with cognitive and clinical features. Materials and Methods: We undertook a detailed investigation of cerebellar lobular volumes in 40 patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) and 40 healthy controls (HCs) using the spatially unbiased atlas template of the cerebellum (SUIT). We examined the functional significance of cerebellar structural abnormalities in relation to cognitive and clinical outcomes in patients. Results: We found that left cerebellar lobules VI and X volumes were lower in FEP patients, compared to HCs. Smaller left lobules VI and X volumes were associated with fewer number of categories completed on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) in patients. In addition, smaller left lobule X volume was related to performance delay on the Trail Making Test (TMT) Part B in patients. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that cerebellar structural abnormalities are present at the early stage of schizophrenia. We suggest functional associations of cerebellar structural changes with non-verbal executive dysfunctions in FEP.

Neural mechanism and heritability of complex motor sequence and audiovisual integration: A healthy twin study

Complex motor sequencing and sensory integration are two key items in scales assessing neurological soft signs. However, the underlying neural mechanism and heritability of these two functions is not known. Using a healthy twin design, we adopted two functional brain imaging tasks focusing on fist-edge-palm (FEP) complex motor sequence and audiovisual integration (AVI). Fifty-six monozygotic twins and 56 dizygotic twins were recruited in this study. The pre- and postcentral, temporal and parietal gyri, the supplementary motor area, and the cerebellum were activated during the FEP motor sequence, whereas the precentral, temporal, and fusiform gyri, the thalamus, and the caudate were activated during AVI. Activation in the supplementary motor area during FEP motor sequence and activation in the precentral gyrus and the thalamic nuclei during AVI exhibited significant heritability estimates, ranging from 0.5 to 0.62. These results suggest that activation in cortical motor areas, the thalamus and the cerebellum associated with complex motor sequencing and audiovisual integration function may be heritable.

Brain anatomy of symptom stratification in schizophrenia: a voxel-based morphometry study

BACKGROUND

Although some Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) studies have investigated the relationship between clinical severity and neuroanatomical alterations in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ), the biological signature associated with illness severity in schizophrenia is still uncertain. Therefore, this study aims to investigate structural brain abnormalities in SCZ, with particular regards to the identification of potential deficits associated with the severity of illness.

METHODS

In total, 1.5T MRI data were acquired for 61 subjects with SCZ and 59 matched healthy controls (HC). The patient group was divided in two sub-groups based on clinical severity, one composed of 34 mild-to-moderately ill patients, and the other of 27 severely ill patients, and compared with matched HC.

RESULTS

The whole group of patients with SCZ had significantly reduced grey matter (GM) volumes in the left inferior and middle temporal gyrus compared to HC (p < 0.05, pFWE corrected). Furthermore, compared to HC, patients with mild-to-moderate illness showed decreased GM volumes in the inferior and middle temporal gyrus, whereas those with severe illness had reduced GM volumes in the middle temporal gyrus and cerebellum bilaterally (all p < 0.001 uncorrected). No differences were observed between the two sub-groups of patients.

CONCLUSION

The results showed significant GM volume reductions in temporal regions in patients with SCZ compared to matched HC, confirming the role of these regions in the pathophysiology of SCZ. Furthermore, specific cerebellar grey matter volume reductions were identified in patients with severe illness, which may contribute to stratifying patients with SCZ according to their clinical phenotype expression, ultimately helping in guiding targeted therapeutic/rehabilitation interventions.

[Creatine kinase isoform B distribution in the brain in schizophrenia]

AIM

To compare patterns of brain isoform creatine phosphokinase (CPK B) distributions in post-mortem brain from patients with schizophrenia (Sch) and patients with somatic diseases (controls).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Extracts of readily soluble and membrane-associated proteins were prepared from post-mortem samples of prefrontal cortex (Brodmann area 10), anterior (area 24) and posterior (area 23) cingulate cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum cortex from patients with Sch and control group (the samples were matched by age and postmortem interval). CPK enzymatic activity was measured by determination of inorganic phosphate, amounts of immunoreative CPK В were estimated by ECL-Western blotting using monoclonal antibodies.

RESULTS

A significant decrease in CPK activity and amounts of immunoreative CPK В was observed in fractions of readily soluble proteins in all studied brain structures of patients with Sch compared to controls (p<0.01). Significant differences in CPK activity were found in membrane-associated protein fractions from the hippocampus (p<0.01), but not from the cingulate cortex (areas 23 and 24), of Sch patients compared with controls, whereas no difference between groups was found in levels of immunoreactive CPK B in membrane-associated protein fractions from the cingulate cortex (areas 23 and 24) and hippocampus. The decrease in the amount of CPK B in the frontal cortex of patients with Sch was confirmed by purification of CPK B active dimer from brain samples of patients with Sch and controls.

CONCLUSION

Changes in the levels of CPK brain isoform in the brain of patients with Sch (the decrease in CPK activity and amounts in various brain structures at different extents) lead to the substantial alteration of CPK distribution pattern among the brain areas studied, result in the disturbance of the brain energy metabolism and contribute to Sch pathogenesis.