Anterior cingulate cortex disconnectivity in high-risk offspring of bipolar patients: a preliminary DTI study

Abstract

Objective: Given the shortage of studies done in this field, our aim was to distinguish offspring of bipolar parents between symptomatic and asymptomatic, then to compare neuroimaging findings between groups, thus assessing the early biomarker potential of neuroimaging techniques. Method: In this case-controlled study, we compared an asymptomatic high-risk group and a symptomatic high-risk group with a healthy control group. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) with region of interest (ROI) was used to analyze mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) values in the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) of the frontal cortex, the genu and splenium of the corpus callosum (CC), the cingulum bundle of the anterior cingulate cortex (CB-aCC), and the uncinate fasciculus (UF). Results: No differences were found between groups for FA and MD in the CC, SLF, and UF, but MD of the CB-aCC was significantly higher in the AHR and SHR groups than in healthy controls. Higher MD values found in the aCC of the high-risk groups may represent cellular damage in that region, regardless of symptomatic status. Conclusion: Results from this study may suggest candidates that could contribute to the neural underpinnings of a bipolar prodromal phase. Further longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes are needed to map the association of neural development and bipolar disorder-related psychopathology in at-risk youth.