Elsevier

Schizophrenia Research

Volume 22, Issue 1, 18 October 1996, Pages 5-17
Schizophrenia Research

Research paper
Hippocampal age-related changes in schizophrenia: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study

https://doi.org/10.1016/0920-9964(96)00044-8Get rights and content

Abstract

We have used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy to study in vivo N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), choline and creatine in the hippocampi of 26 schizophrenics and 38 normal controls. Measurements of NAA suggest that age-related neuronal loss occurs at a similar rate in schizophrenics and controls. On the other hand, we observe in schizophrenics age-related choline abnormalities not present in controls. We suggest that these age-related changes may be related to an abnormal myelination process and contribute to the observed clinical deterioration associated with schizophrenia.

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