Retinal structure and its relationship with premorbid, clinical, and cognitive variables in young Spanish patients with early course schizophrenia spectrum disorders

• Published in: European neuropsychopharmacology Vol. 92; pp. 38 - 47
• Main Authors: González-Díaz, Jairo M., Sánchez Dalmau, Bernardo, Camós-Carreras, Anna, Alba-Arbalat, Salut, Amoretti, Silvia, Forte, Maria Florencia, Serra-Navarro, Maria, Salmerón, Sergi, Pérez-Ramos, Anaid, Vieta, Eduard, Torrent, Carla, Bernardo, Miquel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.03.2025
• Subjects: Adult; Biomarkers; Cognition; Cross-Sectional Studies; Early Diagnosis; Female; Humans; Male; Optical coherence; Retina; Retina - diagnostic imaging; Retina - pathology; Schizophrenia - diagnostic imaging; Schizophrenia - pathology; Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders; Schizophrenic Psychology; Spain; Tomography; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Young Adult; Spain; Tomography; Biomarkers; Retina; Optical coherence; Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders; Early Diagnosis
• ISSN: 0924-977X; 1873-7862; 1873-7862
• DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2024.12.006

•Retina shows potential as a biomarker in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders.•Associations between pRNFL thickness, premorbid adjustment, and cognition were observed but inconsistent.•Findings are preliminary due to the small sample size and exploratory nature of the study.•Larger and longitudinal studies are needed to validate the role of retinal imaging in SSD. Emerging evidence suggests that retinal structural alterations are present in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD), potentially reflecting broader neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative processes. This cross-sectional study investigates retinal thickness and its clinical correlations in a sample of early-course SSD patients compared to healthy controls (HCs). One hundred-two eyes from 26 SSD cases and 25 age- and sex-matched HCs were included. Retinal structure was evaluated using Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT), focusing on the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL), macular volume/thickness, and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCL+IPL) thickness. Although SSD cases showed increased peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness in specific quadrants, most retinal parameters did not differ significantly between groups. Preliminary associations were observed between retinal measures, premorbid adjustment, DUP, and cognitive performance. These findings, while suggesting the potential of retinal imaging as a tool for early detection and monitoring of psychotic disorders, must be interpreted with caution. Further longitudinal and multimodal research is warranted to explore the association between these retinal changes and neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, and overall brain health in SSD patients.