Development of pre-morbid diagnostic marker of schizophrenia: AMPA PET study

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K20603
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Pioneering)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 52:General internal medicine and related fields
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: Uchida Hiroyuki 慶應義塾大学, 医学部(信濃町), 教授 (40327630)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 根本 隆洋 東邦大学, 医学部, 教授 (20296693) ; 中島 振一郎 慶應義塾大学, 医学部(信濃町), 講師 (60383866)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 精神病 / 精神病発症危険状態 / AMPA受容体 / PET

Outline of Final Research Achievements

At Risk Mental State (ARMS) is a group of individuals who are at high risk of developing psychosis before the onset of illness. People with ARMS often exhibit subtle symptoms such as changes in thinking, mood, and behavior that precede full-blown psychosis. Identifying these individuals early can be crucial for preventive interventions as about 30% of ARMS patients transition to psychosis (mainly schizophrenia). There was no accurate early diagnosis of "transitioners," leading to delays in treatment and worse prognosis. However, current diagnostic methods lack the precision needed to distinguish between those who will develop psychosis and those who will not. This study demonstrates the feasibility of a study to predict transition to psychosis based on the amount and distribution of AMPA receptors. The findings of this study could pave the way for future research into other biomarkers and risk factors associated with the transition to psychosis.

Free Research Field

精神医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本試験では、ARMS症例におけるPET研究の実行可能性を明らかにするとともに、これまで生体脳で可視化が不可能であったAMPA受容体をARMS症例おいて世界で初めて定量した。最終結果解析が待たれるものの、本試験の結果は、ARMS症例におけるPET研究の今後の発展に寄与するだけでなく、病態生理に基づいた個別化診断・治療を行うための重要な基礎データを提供した。