Cognitive impairment is related to oxidative stress and chemokine levels in first psychotic episodes

• Published in: Schizophrenia research 2012-05, Vol.137 (1), p.66-72
• Main Authors: Martínez-Cengotitabengoa, Mónica, Mac-Dowell, Karina Soledad, Leza, Juan Carlos, Micó, Juan Antonio, Fernandez, Miryam, Echevarría, Enrique, Sanjuan, Julio, Elorza, Julián, González-Pinto, Ana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; Catalase - blood; Chemokine CCL2 - blood; Cognition; Cognition Disorders - etiology; Female; First episode; Glutathione - blood; Glutathione Peroxidase - blood; Humans; Inflammation; Linear Models; Lipid Peroxidation - physiology; Male; MCP-1; Medical sciences; Neuropsychological Tests; Nitrites - blood; Other psychotic disorders; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - physiology; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychoses; Psychosis; Psychotic Disorders - blood; Psychotic Disorders - complications; Statistics, Nonparametric; Superoxide Dismutase - blood; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0920-9964; 1573-2509
• DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2012.03.004

Abstract Introduction This study measures the levels of various markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in blood samples from first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients, and examines the association between these peripheral biomarkers and cognitive performance at 6 months after treatment. Methods Twenty-eight FEP patients and 28 healthy controls (matched by age, sex and educational level) had blood samples taken at admission for assessment of total antioxidant status, superoxide dismutase (SOD), total glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase, lipid peroxidation, nitrites and the chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). A battery of cognitive tests was also applied to the healthy controls and those FEP patients who were in remission at 6 months after the acute episode. Results FEP patients had significantly lower levels of total antioxidant status, catalase and glutathione peroxidase, compared with the healthy controls. Regression analyses found that MCP-1 levels were negatively associated with learning and memory (verbal and working), nitrite levels were negatively associated with executive function, and glutathione levels were positively associated with executive function. Conclusion Our results suggest an association between certain peripheral markers of oxidative stress and inflammation and specific aspects of cognitive functioning in FEP patients. Further studies on the association between MCP-1 and cognition are warranted.