MRI CHANGES IN SCHIZOPHRENIA IN LATE-LIFE - A PRELIMINARY CONTROLLED-STUDY

The aim of this pilot study was to compare cerebral changes on magneti c resonance imaging (MRI) scans in elderly schizophrenic subjects with those in psychiatric and normal control subjects. We compared the MRI s of 19 subjects with schizophrenia, 19 age- and gender-matched subjec ts with recurrent major depression, and 19 age- and gender-matched non psychiatric control subjects. Deep white matter hyperintensities (DWMH ) in right posterior regions were significantly more prominent in the schizophrenic group than in the two comparison groups. Total ratings o f MRI abnormalities were significantly related to age in both the norm al control and schizophrenic groups, but not in the depressive group. Age of onset was positively associated with total ratings in the depre ssive group, but not in the schizophrenic group. Thus, a subset of eld erly patients with schizophrenia appear to have cerebral white matter abnormalities; such abnormalities may not be confined to late-onset sc hizophrenia. Systematic MRI studies of early- and late-onset schizophr enia in late life are needed to resolve this-question.