Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
186,125 studies31 sourcesUpdated 47 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Scientific Reports

Enlarged brain perivascular spaces in chronic schizophrenia but not in first-episode psychosis: a cross-sectional study

  • Alexandra Morozova
  • Petr Zach
  • Katharina Geier
  • Marek Brabec
  • Antonin Škoch
  • Georgia Piyioti
  • Anna Söderberg
  • Nikol Pasik
  • Yousef Kehail
  • Marie Chudožilov Bendová
  • Yuliya Zaytseva
  • Filip Španiel
Open at sourceDOICite

Abstract

Enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS) are MRI-visible markers associated with glymphatic system function and brain waste clearance, and are thought to reflect neurovascular, neuroinflammatory, and age-related changes. While schizophrenia is associated with neuroinflammation and accelerated brain aging, little is known about metabolic brain waste clearance in the condition. Moreover, whether EPVS burden differs across stages of disease is unclear. This study aimed to compare EPVS in the centrum semiovale (CSO) and basal ganglia (BG) among individuals with schizophrenia, first-episode psychosis (FEP), and healthy controls, with a total of 174 subjects included. EPVS were quantified using high-resolution 3T MRI and a standardized rating scale, with assessments conducted by three independent raters. Ordinal logistic regression showed higher odds of being in a higher CSO-EPVS category in chronic schizophrenia versus healthy controls (OR 2.31, 95% CI 1.15–4.62, p = 0.02), as well as higher total EPVS burden (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.04–3.93, p = 0.04), while no significant group differences were observed for BG-EPVS or between FEP and healthy controls. These findings suggest regional and group-specific differences in EPVS burden, with greater burden in chronic schizophrenia primarily reflected by CSO-EPVS rather than BG-EPVS. This study emphasizes the potential role of neurovascular and neuroinflammatory processes in schizophrenia, aligning with evidence of accelerated brain aging in the disorder.

Related

  1. Vascular drivers of cerebrospinal fluid movement and enlarged perivascular spaces
    James D. LeFevre, Yukti Vyas, Angela L. Jefferson
    Alzheimer's & DementiaPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Full textNeurosciencePMCEurope PMC
  2. Enlarged hind femora as active defensive weapons in Cretaceous stick insects
    Xinran Zhao, Dong Ren, Hongru Yang +1
    BMC BiologyPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0EcologyCrossref
  3. Autism with social anxiety is associated with acquiescent behaviors and enlarged amygdala volume.
    Yu Hao, Sarah M Banker, Matthew Schafer +9
    Translational psychiatryPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-NDFull textNeuroscienceEurope PMCDOAJ
  4. Hearing Loss and Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct (EVA) in a Patient Negative for Canonical EVA Genes: Potential Role of SCD5
    Raffaella Liuni, Lennart Weitgasser, Paola Gavazzo +4
    BiomoleculesPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0NeuroscienceCrossref
  5. Cellular and spatial context of genetic convergence between insomnia liability and DTI ALPS perivascular diffusivity
    Jing Shen, Yuxuan Shen, Gang Yu +2
    Communications BiologyPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Full textGeneral biologyCrossref

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{morozova2026enlarged,
  title = {{Enlarged brain perivascular spaces in chronic schizophrenia but not in first-episode psychosis: a cross-sectional study}},
  author = {Alexandra Morozova and Petr Zach and Katharina Geier and Marek Brabec and Antonin Škoch and Georgia Piyioti and Anna Söderberg and Nikol Pasik and Yousef Kehail and Marie Chudožilov Bendová and Yuliya Zaytseva and Filip Španiel},
  journal = {Scientific Reports},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-77409-5},
  url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-77409-5},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Enlarged brain perivascular spaces in chronic schizophrenia but not in first-episode psychosis: a cross-sectional study
AU  - Alexandra Morozova
AU  - Petr Zach
AU  - Katharina Geier
AU  - Marek Brabec
AU  - Antonin Škoch
AU  - Georgia Piyioti
AU  - Anna Söderberg
AU  - Nikol Pasik
AU  - Yousef Kehail
AU  - Marie Chudožilov Bendová
AU  - Yuliya Zaytseva
AU  - Filip Španiel
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/28
JO  - Scientific Reports
DO  - 10.1038/s41598-026-77409-5
UR  - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-77409-5
AB  - Enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS) are MRI-visible markers associated with glymphatic system function and brain waste clearance, and are thought to reflect neurovascular, neuroinflammatory, and age-related changes. While schizophrenia is associated with neuroinflammation and accelerated brain aging, little is known about metabolic brain waste clearance in the condition. Moreover, whether EPVS burden differs across stages of disease is unclear. This study aimed to compare EPVS in the centrum semiovale (CSO) and basal ganglia (BG) among individuals with schizophrenia, first-episode psychosis (FEP), and healthy controls, with a total of 174 subjects included. EPVS were quantified using high-resolution 3T MRI and a standardized rating scale, with assessments conducted by three independent raters. Ordinal logistic regression showed higher odds of being in a higher CSO-EPVS category in chronic schizophrenia versus healthy controls (OR 2.31, 95% CI 1.15–4.62, p = 0.02), as well as higher total EPVS burden (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.04–3.93, p = 0.04), while no significant group differences were observed for BG-EPVS or between FEP and healthy controls. These findings suggest regional and group-specific differences in EPVS burden, with greater burden in chronic schizophrenia primarily reflected by CSO-EPVS rather than BG-EPVS. This study emphasizes the potential role of neurovascular and neuroinflammatory processes in schizophrenia, aligning with evidence of accelerated brain aging in the disorder.
SN  - 2045-2322
ER  -