Abstract
There is evidence that obesity or higher body mass index is correlated with cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. Recent studies have demonstrated that genetic risk factors, such as the NRG3, are correlated with both elevated BMI and reduced cognitive function. In present study, we aimed to determine whether possession of the NRG3 rs10748842 influences the correlation between elevated BMI and reduced cognitive ability in schizophrenia. To our knowledge, this has never been examined before. A total of 625 inpatients with schizophrenia and 400 controls were recruited. The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) was performed to assess cognitive function. We used multiple analysis of covariance (MANCOVA), analyses of covariance (ANCOVA), Pearson correlations, partial correlations, and multivariate regression analysis to test the influence of NRG3 rs10748842 on the aforementioned variables. All RBANS five sub-scores and total score were lower in patients than those in controls (all p < 0.001). Patients carrying NRG3 rs10748842 TC + CC heterozygous genotype had lower attention score compared to TT homozygous genotype (adjusted F = 4.77, p = 0.029). BMI was positively associated with language score in patients (β = 0.387, t = 2.59, p = 0.01). Interestingly, we further found positive association between BMI and language score in TT carriers (partial correlations: r = 0.13, adjusted p = 0.004; multivariate regression: β = 0.42, t = 2.66, p = 0.008), but not in CT + CC carrier (p > 0.05). Our study demonstrated that NRG3 rs10748842 was associated with cognitive impairments, especially attention performance in schizophrenia. Moreover, NRG3 rs10748842 altered the effect of BMI on cognitive impairments as measured by the RBANS language score in chronic patients with schizophrenia.
Highlights
Cognitive impairment is a core characteristic of schizophrenia, observable ~98% of patients across the domains of memory, attention, language, visuospatial, processing speed, learning, and executive function[1,2]
In the present study, we found that (1) all RBANS scores were decreased in patients with schizophrenia compared to healthy controls; (2) patients with Neuregulin 3 (NRG3) rs10748842 genotype TC + CC had lower attention score than those with TT; (3) body mass index (BMI) was positively associated with the language score in schizophrenia
Neuregulin 3 (NRG3) is a member of neuregulin family, which plays an important role in neuronal development, including plasticity, development, differentiation, and proliferation[25]
Summary
Cognitive impairment is a core characteristic of schizophrenia, observable ~98% of patients across the domains of memory, attention, language, visuospatial, processing speed, learning, and executive function[1,2]. Cognitive impairments are observed in both first episode and chronic patients with schizophrenia[3]. They are even observable during their prodromal stage and throughout the illness course despite improvements in psychopathological symptoms after pharmacological treatment[4]. Cognitive impairment affects treatment outcomes and everyday disability in patients with schizophrenia[5,6]. It is of interest to see whether there are mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment, which could be intervened upon to improve outcomes—these are multifactorial and are as yet unresolved. Genetic variance is one such mechanism and it is well established that certain genes predispose patients to
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
