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Research by Dr. Konasale Prasad and his colleagues featured in 
Special Issue of Schizophrenia Research
Schizophrenia Research, 161, 2015

Schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders may be due to impaired anatomical and functional connections. Recent studies suggest a pattern of impaired connections in the fronto-temporal regions. However, its relationship to cognitive performance and future risk for schizophrenia are not fully understood. Further, factors underlying such impaired connections are unclear. Dr. Konasale Prasad and his colleagues used diffusion tensor imaging, comprehensive neuropsychological data and peripheral immune mediators to investigate these questions among early course schizophrenia patients, first-degree relatives of schizophrenia patients and unrelated healthy controls. 

A special issue of Schizophrenia Research on white matter pathology, published two of Dr. Prasad and colleagues articles. One paper entitled, "White matter diffusivity and microstructure among schizophrenia subjects and first-degree relatives" concurrently examined multiple diffusion parameters in the white matter and its relationship to cognitive performance among schizophrenia patients and first-degree relatives compared to healthy controls. Another paper entitled, "Differential susceptibility of white matter tracts to inflammatory mediators in schizophrenia: An integrated DTI study" examined the impact of peripheral immune mediators on white matter diffusivities. Together these studies suggest that the forceps minor dysconnections may be a disease marker while temporal bundle of superior longitudinal fasciculus dysconnections may be a vulnerability marker. Peripheral immune mediators may affect connections in the dorsal tracts in schizophrenia than the ventral tracts.

These studies represent approaches to model the risk and disease states, and the contribution of selected peripheral markers to such dysconnections. 

To access the special issue of Schizophrenia Research, click here.