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Brain abnormalities in bipolar disorder detected by quantitative T1ρ mapping

Molecular Psychiatry volume 20, pages 201–206 (2015)Cite this article

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Abstract

Abnormal metabolism has been reported in bipolar disorder, however, these studies have been limited to specific regions of the brain. To investigate whole-brain changes potentially associated with these processes, we applied a magnetic resonance imaging technique novel to psychiatric research, quantitative mapping of T1 relaxation in the rotating frame (T1ρ). This method is sensitive to proton chemical exchange, which is affected by pH, metabolite concentrations and cellular density with high spatial resolution relative to alternative techniques such as magnetic resonance spectroscopy and positron emission tomography. Study participants included 15 patients with bipolar I disorder in the euthymic state and 25 normal controls balanced for age and gender. T1ρ maps were generated and compared between the bipolar and control groups using voxel-wise and regional analyses. T1ρ values were found to be elevated in the cerebral white matter and cerebellum in the bipolar group. However, volumes of these areas were normal as measured by high-resolution T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Interestingly, the cerebellar T1ρ abnormalities were normalized in participants receiving lithium treatment. These findings are consistent with metabolic or microstructural abnormalities in bipolar disorder and draw attention to roles of the cerebral white matter and cerebellum. This study highlights the potential utility of high-resolution T1ρ mapping in psychiatric research.

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Acknowledgements

This project was partially supported by a gift from Roger Koch. JGF was supported by the National Institutes of Health (1K23MH083695-01A210). JAW was supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs (Merit Award), National Institute of Mental Health (5R01MH085724), National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (R01HL113863) and a NARSAD Independent Investigator Award. Preliminary data for this study were reported in a conference abstract.60

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA,

    C P Johnson & V A Magnotta

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA,

    R L Follmer, L A Warren, J G Fiedorowicz, V A Magnotta & J A Wemmie

  3. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA

    I Oguz & G E Christensen

  4. Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA

    J G Fiedorowicz

  5. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA

    J G Fiedorowicz

  6. Veterans Affairs Hospital Center, Iowa City, IA, USA

    J A Wemmie

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  1. C P Johnson
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Correspondence to V A Magnotta or J A Wemmie.

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Johnson, C., Follmer, R., Oguz, I. et al. Brain abnormalities in bipolar disorder detected by quantitative T1ρ mapping. Mol Psychiatry 20, 201–206 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2014.157

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