The role of low subcortical iron, white matter myelin, and oligodendrocytes in schizophrenia: a quantitative susceptibility mapping and diffusion tensor imaging study.

ABSTRACT: Iron-the most abundant magnetic brain substance-is essential for many biological processes, including dopamine and myelin synthesis. Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) MRI has recently linked altered subcortical magnetic susceptibility (χ) to schizophrenia. Since χ is increased by iron and decreased by myelin, abnormal levels of either could underlie these QSM differences. In white matter tracts, magnetic susceptibility anisotropy (δχ) serves as a myelin-specific marker that is insensitive to iron content. To clarify the origin of case-control χ differences, we employed QSM in 85 individuals with schizophrenia, from first-episode mental health teams, and 86 healthy controls. A subset also underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to calculate subcortical tissue mean diffusivity, whic

SUBMITTER: Vano LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12815684 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature