Researchers have found a connection between cognitive function and brain networks in individuals who are at risk of developing psychotic disorders like schizophrenia, even before they experience their first psychotic episode.
Recent studies show that cognitive difficulties in psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, are associated with the way brain networks are organized. This connection is evident in individuals identified as at risk for psychotic disorders, even before they experience their initial psychotic break. A significant study published in Biological Psychiatry by Elsevier points to potential avenues for early diagnosis and treatment of these challenging symptoms.
Dr. Heather Burrell Ward, the lead researcher from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, remarks, “Cognitive dysfunction is very common in schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Currently, there are no effective medications to address these cognitive issues, which can lead to major impairment. Often, these issues arise before an individual experiences their first psychotic break, highlighting the need for early detection and intervention. Our ongoing research aims to understand and manage the symptoms of psychotic disorders that do not respond to medication.”
Several areas of cognitive function that are consistently found to be impaired in psychotic disorders have been studied extensively, such as general cognitive ability. Traditionally, research on cognitive impairment in psychosis has relied on cognitive tasks that were designed for controlling populations. However, these studies fail to determine whether these cognitive frameworks correspond with measurable brain structures. The present research utilized advanced MRI techniques and cognitive assessments specifically designed for individuals with psychosis, analyzing data gathered by two research consortia: the Human Connectome Project for Early Psychosis (HCP-EP) and the North American Prodrome Longitudinal Study (NAPLS).
Co-senior researcher Dr. Roscoe O. Brady, Jr., from Harvard Medical School, further elaborates, “Our findings indicate that cognitive impairment in those with psychotic disorders relates to the organization of brain networks. We pursued an approach that had not been attempted before: investigating whether the brain’s signature of cognitive impairment could be detected in individuals before they experience a psychotic episode. Our analysis of those considered at risk but not yet experiencing psychosis revealed that this relationship between brain networks and cognition is present in individuals who will eventually develop psychosis.”
John Krystal, MD, Editor of Biological Psychiatry, commented on the significance of the study, stating, “This innovative research combined advanced data-driven analysis of brain connectivity with cognitive assessments informed by the disease process, revealing a new and reliable relationship between brain connectivity and cognitive ability in psychotic disorders. This could significantly enhance our capabilities for early identification and intervention in these disorders.”
Concluding the discussion, co-senior author Dr. Kathryn E. Lewandowski from McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School mentions, “An international initiative is underway to discover biomarkers and points of intervention for those at risk of psychotic disorders through the Accelerating Medicines Partnership® Schizophrenia (AMP SCZ). Our findings connecting cognition with brain networks, detectable even before the initial psychotic break, open the door to early testing and treatment options, including non-invasive neuromodulation.”
