TY - JOUR
T1 - Antibodies to cytomegalovirus and Herpes Simplex Virus 1 associated with cognitive function in schizophrenia
AU - Shirts, Brian H.
AU - Prasad, Konasale M.
AU - Pogue-Geile, Michael F.
AU - Dickerson, Faith
AU - Yolken, Robert H.
AU - Nimgaonkar, Vishwajit L.
N1 - Funding Information:
Funded by grants from the Stanley Medical Research Institute (RHY) and NIH (MH074265 to BHS, MH072995 to KMP, and MH01489, MH56242 and MH53459 to VLN). Neither the Stanley Medical Research Institute nor the NIMH had any further role in study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the paper for publication. While analyses were in progress, VLN was supported by Lundbeck USA for unrelated research.
PY - 2008/12
Y1 - 2008/12
N2 - Background: Cognitive impairment in the form of decreased working memory and executive functions has been recognized as a key deficit in schizophrenia. Neurotropic viruses have been associated with focal gray matter deficits in patients with schizophrenia. We evaluated whether such agents alter cognitive function in schizophrenia. Methods: The sample consisted of 329 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. We evaluated associations between exposure to selected agents (Herpes Simplex Viruses 1 and 2 (HSV1, HSV2 respectively) cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Toxoplasma gondii) and scores on the Trail Making Test (TMT), controlling for relevant variables. Results: Serological evidence of exposure to CMV was associated with impaired performance on TMT part A time to completion (p = 0.044), a measure of visual search, working memory, and psychomotor speed. Both CMV and HSV1 were significantly associated with increased errors on TMT part B (p < 0.001 for both viruses). HSV2 and T. gondii exposure measures were not associated with any of the cognitive functions evaluated using TMT. Conclusions: Both CMV and HSV1 are associated with impaired cognitive function in schizophrenia as measured by the TMT. Further analyses to evaluate the impact of other illness related variables including genetic variants are warranted.
AB - Background: Cognitive impairment in the form of decreased working memory and executive functions has been recognized as a key deficit in schizophrenia. Neurotropic viruses have been associated with focal gray matter deficits in patients with schizophrenia. We evaluated whether such agents alter cognitive function in schizophrenia. Methods: The sample consisted of 329 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. We evaluated associations between exposure to selected agents (Herpes Simplex Viruses 1 and 2 (HSV1, HSV2 respectively) cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Toxoplasma gondii) and scores on the Trail Making Test (TMT), controlling for relevant variables. Results: Serological evidence of exposure to CMV was associated with impaired performance on TMT part A time to completion (p = 0.044), a measure of visual search, working memory, and psychomotor speed. Both CMV and HSV1 were significantly associated with increased errors on TMT part B (p < 0.001 for both viruses). HSV2 and T. gondii exposure measures were not associated with any of the cognitive functions evaluated using TMT. Conclusions: Both CMV and HSV1 are associated with impaired cognitive function in schizophrenia as measured by the TMT. Further analyses to evaluate the impact of other illness related variables including genetic variants are warranted.
KW - Cognition
KW - Cognitive impairment
KW - Cytomegalovirus
KW - Environmental etiology
KW - Herpes Simplex Virus
KW - Schizophrenia
KW - Trail Making Test
KW - Working memory
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U2 - 10.1016/j.schres.2008.07.017
DO - 10.1016/j.schres.2008.07.017
M3 - Article
C2 - 18801645
AN - SCOPUS:56149109020
SN - 0920-9964
VL - 106
SP - 268
EP - 274
JO - Schizophrenia Research
JF - Schizophrenia Research
IS - 2-3
ER -