Microglial activation and progressive brain changes in schizophrenia

LE Laskaris; MA Di Biase; I Everall; G Chana; A Christopoulos; E Skafidas; VL Cropley; C Pantelis

Journal article

Microglial activation and progressive brain changes in schizophrenia

LE Laskaris, MA Di Biase, I Everall, G Chana, A Christopoulos, E Skafidas, VL Cropley, C Pantelis

British Journal of Pharmacology | WILEY | Published : 2016

DOI: 10.1111/bph.13364

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a debilitating disorder that typically begins in adolescence and is characterized by perceptual abnormalities, delusions, cognitive and behavioural disturbances and functional impairments. While current treatments can be effective, they are often insufficient to alleviate the full range of symptoms. Schizophrenia is associated with structural brain abnormalities including grey and white matter volume loss and impaired connectivity. Recent findings suggest these abnormalities follow a neuroprogressive course in the earliest stages of the illness, which may be associated with episodes of acute relapse. Neuroinflammation has been proposed as a potential mechanism underlying the..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Maria Di Biase Author

Gursharan Chana Author

Stan Skafidas Author

Vanessa Cropley Author

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Grants

Awarded by University of Melbourne

Funding Acknowledgements

This study was supported by an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) project grant (1065742), a NARSAD Distinguished Investigator grant awarded to C. P. (ID: 18722), and a University of Melbourne Early Career Researcher grant awarded to V. C. (601253). V. C. was supported by an NHMRC Early Career Fellowship (628880). M. A. D. was supported by the Rotary Health Ian Scott PhD Scholarship in Mental Health. L. L. was supported by the Australian Post-Graduate Award PhD Scholarship. C. P. was supported by an NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellowship (ID: 628386) and A. C. was supported by an NHMRC Principal Research Fellowship (APP1041875). E. S. was supported by the Clifford Chair in Neural Engineering. Thanks to Benjamin Rossi for creating the microglial activation figure.