MRI findings differentiate between late-onset schizophrenia and late-life mood disorder

Objectives. Compare MRI scans of patients with late-onset schizophrenia, la te-life depression and late-life bipolar disorder to age- and gender-matche d controls. MRI head scans of 14 patients in each diagnostic group and 21 p atients in the normal control group were compared. Subjects were recruited from inpatient and outpatient services. Measures. The CERAD MRI rating algorithm was used to rate degree of trophy. Results. Patients with bipolar and unipolar disorder had greater left sylvi an fissure and left and right temporal sulcal enlargement, and more bilater al cortical atrophy than normals. Patients with late-onset schizophrenia ha d larger right temporal horns and larger third ventricles. These findings v alidate the distinctions between late-life affective disorder and late-onse t schizophrenia and mirror changes reported in younger individuals. They ma y reflect underlying structural and functional abnormalities found in neuro pathologic and functional imaging studies. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.