Structural change of the cerebral cortex and pathological diagnoses
Researchers at the Jülich Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine from the Helmholtz Research Field Information have been able to show that the brain exhibits similar structural changes in different psychiatric disorders. These changes in brain structure follow a pattern that does not appear to be random: regions that are similar in structure and function tend to be affected together as well. This means that the biological makeup of our brains determines which regions are more susceptible to changes caused by psychiatric disorders. This pattern seems to underlie several psychiatric diagnoses, which may be one reason why patients with different diagnoses sometimes show similar symptoms. (Source: Forschungszentrum Jülich – Press releases)
Scientific result
In their paper published in Nature Communications, the scientists showed that disease-related changes in cerebral cortex thickness follow a network-like pattern in six psychiatric disorders. This pattern suggests that brain regions with similar cytoarchitecture, which play a role in similar functional networks and cognitive function, are more likely to develop similar disease-related changes – across psychiatric diagnoses.
The results show that brain changes in psychiatric disorders represent a network in which regional changes rarely occur in isolation. At the same time, however, these regional profiles strongly influence which regions are similarly pathologically affected.
Societal and scientific relevance
It is still unclear whether changes in brain structure that are associated with psychiatric symptoms follow a particular pattern or organizing principle that underlies many psychiatric disorders as a basis, so to speak.
Psychiatric disorders can be seen not only as categorical diagnoses but also as highly overlapping spectra. This is supported by the findings of researchers: There are cortical profiles that are generally more “prone” to pathological change in many psychiatric diagnoses, rather than specific to one diagnosis. Just as psychiatric symptoms are often referred to as overlapping spectra, a new brain-based “coordinate system” is described here in which different diagnoses show higher or lower similarity in structural changes to each other.
More details
The researchers also observed that certain brain regions potentially play a special role in shaping cortical patterns or networks of pathological changes due to their extensive connectivity and prolonged plasticity in adolescent developmental stages.
With the help of this study, the Jülich scientists methodically demonstrate the value of multimodal analyses that not only describe changes in cortex thickness as such, but also relate them to cytoarchitecture, network profiles, and genetic patterns.
FZJ/M. Hettwer 09.01.2023
The original press release can be found at:
Strukturänderung der Großhirnrinde und pathologische Diagnosen (only in german)
The original publication can be found at (Open Access):
M.D. Hettwer et al, Coordinated cortical thickness alterations in six neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders, Nature Communications, 11 November 202. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34367-6
Localization in the Helmholtz Research Field Information:
Helmholtz Research Field Information, Program 2: Natural, Artificial and Cognitive Information Processing, Topic 5: Decoding Brain Organization and Dysfunction
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Simon Eickhoff
Director at the Institute of Neuroscience und Medicine (INM)
Brain and Behaviour (INM-7)
Phone: +49 2461 61-1791
E-Mail: s.eickhoff@fz-juelich.de
Meike Hettwer
Institute of Neuroscience und Medicine (INM)
Brain and Behaviour (INM-7)
Phone: +49 2461 61-85947
E-Mail: m.hettwer@fz-juelich.de
