OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effect of elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and exposure to Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) on the severity of cognitive impairment in individuals with schizophrenia. METHODS: We measured the levels of CRP and of antibodies to HSV-1 in serum samples from 588 individuals with schizophrenia by enzyme immunoassay tests. Cognitive functioning was measured with the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and psychiatric symptoms with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). The effects of HSV1 and CRP on cognitive functioning were analyzed with linear and logistic regression analyses adjusting for demographic and clinical variables. RESULTS: The individuals with elevated CRP levels and HSV-1 seropositivity had lower RBANS cognitive scores. The strongest effect was found in individuals who had both serological evidence of HSV-1 exposure and elevated levels of CRP. These individuals had odds of 2.35 to have an RBANS Total score<=60 as compared to individuals who were HSV-1 seronegative and who did not have elevated levels of CRP (p=.002). The risks of decreased cognitive functioning associated with HSV-1 exposure and elevated levels of CRP were independent and additive. There was no effect of HSV-1 exposure and CRP levels on the severity of symptoms as measured by the PANSS (all p>.5). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated levels of CRP and exposure to HSV-1 are associated with the severity of cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. These findings indicate that infection and inflammation may play a major role in the cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effect of elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and exposure to Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) on the severity of cognitive impairment in individuals with schizophrenia. METHODS: We measured the levels of CRP and of antibodies to HSV-1 in serum samples from 588 individuals with schizophrenia by enzyme immunoassay tests. Cognitive functioning was measured with the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and psychiatric symptoms with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). The effects of HSV1 and CRP on cognitive functioning were analyzed with linear and logistic regression analyses adjusting for demographic and clinical variables. RESULTS: The individuals with elevated CRP levels and HSV-1 seropositivity had lower RBANS cognitive scores. The strongest effect was found in individuals who had both serological evidence of HSV-1 exposure and elevated levels of CRP. These individuals had odds of 2.35 to have an RBANS Total score<=60 as compared to individuals who were HSV-1 seronegative and who did not have elevated levels of CRP (p=.002). The risks of decreased cognitive functioning associated with HSV-1 exposure and elevated levels of CRP were independent and additive. There was no effect of HSV-1 exposure and CRP levels on the severity of symptoms as measured by the PANSS (all p>.5). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated levels of CRP and exposure to HSV-1 are associated with the severity of cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. These findings indicate that infection and inflammation may play a major role in the cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia.
Authors: Vishwajit L Nimgaonkar; Robert H Yolken; Tianxiu Wang; Chung-Chou H Chang; Lora McClain; Eric McDade; Beth E Snitz; Mary Ganguli Journal: Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord Date: 2016 Jul-Sep Impact factor: 2.703
Authors: Michael M Vanyukov; Vishwajit L Nimgaonkar; Levent Kirisci; Galina P Kirillova; Maureen D Reynolds; Konasale Prasad; Ralph E Tarter; Robert H Yolken Journal: Dev Psychopathol Date: 2017-04-19
Authors: Triptish Bhatia; Joel Wood; Satish Iyengar; Sreelatha S Narayanan; Ram Pratap Beniwal; Konasale M Prasad; Kehui Chen; Robert H Yolken; Faith Dickerson; Ruben C Gur; Raquel E Gur; Smita N Deshpande; Vishwajit L Nimgaonkar Journal: Schizophr Res Date: 2017-08-19 Impact factor: 4.939
Authors: Natasja Koks; Akhgar Ghassabian; Kirstin Greaves-Lord; Albert Hofman; Vincent W V Jaddoe; Frank C Verhulst; Henning Tiemeier Journal: Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol Date: 2015-12-03 Impact factor: 3.980
Authors: Konasale M Prasad; Catherine H Upton; Vishwajit L Nimgaonkar; Matcheri S Keshavan Journal: Schizophr Res Date: 2014-10-22 Impact factor: 4.939