White matter microstructural abnormalities of the cingulum bundle in youths with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: Associations with medication, neuropsychological function, and prodromal symptoms of psychosis.

[22q11.2 deletion syndrome]

The 22 q 11 .2 deletion syndrome (22 q 11 .2 DS ) is regarded as an etiologically homogenous model for understanding neuroanatomic disruptions associated with a high risk for schizophrenia . This study utilized diffusion tensor imaging (DTI ) to analyze white matter microstructure in individuals with 22 q 11 .2 DS . We focused on the cingulum bundle (CB ), previously shown to be disrupted in patients with schizophrenia and associated with symptoms of psychosis .White matter microstructure was assessed in the anterior , superior , and posterior CB using the tractography algorithm in DTIStudio . Neuropsychological function , presence of prodromal symptoms of psychosis , and medication history were assessed in all participants .Relative to controls , young adults with 22 q 11 .2 DS showed alterations in most DTI metrics of the CB . Alterations were associated with positive prodromal symptoms of psychosis . However , when individuals with 22 q 11 .2 DS were divided by usage of antipsychotics /mood stabilizers , the medicated and non-medicated groups differed significantly in axial diffusivity of the anterior CB and in fractional anisotropy of the superior CB . DTI metrics did not differ between the medicated group and the control group .Results suggest that the microstructure of the CB is altered in individuals with 22 q 11 .2 DS , and that those alterations may underlie positive prodromal symptoms of psychosis . Our findings further provide preliminary evidence that antipsychotic /mood stabilizer usage may have a reparative effect on white matter microstructure in prodromal 22 q 11 .2 DS , independent of the potential effects of psychosis . Future studies of white matter pathology in individuals with 22 q 11 .2 DS should test for potential effects of medication on white matter microstructure .

Diseases
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Diseases presenting "a high risk for schizophrenia" symptom

22q11.2 deletion syndrome

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