Obesity as a risk factor for adverse brain, cognitive and clinical outcomes in schizophrenia – prospective study (NU20-04-00393)
Basic information
Investigator: MUDr. Filip Španiel, Ph.D.
Main recipient: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Research period: 1/5/2020 – 31/12/2023
Total budget: 11,774,000 CZK
Supported by: Czech Health Research Council (AZV ČR)
Annotation
Obesity frequently co-occurs with Schizophrenia (Sch) and typically presents with similar neurostructural and cognitive impairments as Sch. We propose to test whether obesity is a risk factor for brain/cognitive/clinical deterioration over time in Sch. Participants from our previous cross sectional study will undergo a follow up diagnostic interview, cognitive testing, MRI scanning, anthropometric measures and will give a blood sample at least 1 year after the baseline testing. We expect that Sch and obesity will be each independently associated with 1) regional brain atrophy, 2) cognitive decline, over time. 3) Among Sch participants, obesity will be associated with worse cumulative clinical outcomes. We will control for known confounders and explore their contribution to the variance in the outcome measures. Identifying obesity as modifiable risk factors for adverse brain/cognitive and clinical outcomes in Sch could expand therapeutic options and improve prognosis.