White matter microstructure in relatives of people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder: an ENIGMA meta-analysis.
Marjolein E A Barendse, Simon R Poortman, Christopher R K Ching et al.
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In 30 seconds
This meta-analysis examined white matter microstructure in unaffected first-degree relatives of individuals with bipolar disorder (FDR-BD) and schizophrenia (FDR-SZ) compared to controls. The study included 408 FDR-BD, 542 FDR-SZ, and 841 controls. FDR-BD exhibited higher mean fractional anisotropy (FA) in the posterior limb of the internal capsule than controls, while FDR-SZ showed no significant FA differences.
Key findings
- FDR-BD had higher FA in the posterior limb of the internal capsule than controls.
- FDR-SZ did not show any FA differences from controls.
- Participants with BD or SZ had lower FA than controls in several tracts.
- Working memory scores were positively related to FA in the PLIC in FDR-SZ.
Why it matters
Understanding white matter microstructure in relatives of individuals with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia can help clarify the neurobiological underpinnings of these disorders and their heritability, potentially guiding future research and interventions.