Focal gray matter density changes in schizophrenia

Background: The view that schizophrenia is a brain disease particularly inv olving decrements in gray matter is supported by findings from many imaging studies. However, it is unknown whether the (progressive) loss of tissue a ffects the brain globally or whether tissue loss is more prominent in some areas than in others. Methods: Magnetic resonance whole brain images were acquired from 159 patie nts with schizophrenia or a schizophreniform disorder and 158 healthy subje cts across a 55-year age span. Gray matter density maps were made and analy zed using voxel-based morphometry. Results: Compared with healthy subjects, decreases in gray matter density w ere found in the left amygdala; left hippocampus; right supramarginal gyrus ; thalamus; (orbito) frontal, (superior) temporal, occipitotemporal, precun eate, posterior cingulate, and insular cortices bilaterally in patients wit h schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder. Compared with healthy subject s, increases in gray matter density were exclusively found in the right cau date and globus pallidus in patients with schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder. A group-by-age interaction for density was found in the left amy gdala, owing to a negative regression slope of gray matter density on age i n the left amygdala in patients compared with healthy subjects. Conclusions: Gray matter density is decreased in distinct focal areas in th e brains of patients with schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder, The d ecreased density in the left amygdala is more pronounced in older patients with schizophrenia.