The month of walking alone and BDNF level differ between drug-naive first-episode schizophrenia patients and healthy controls

Zhenmei Zhang; Lejia Fan; Liu Yuan; Zongchang Li; Lijun Ouyang; Xiaoqian Ma; Zihao Yang; Jingyan Lv; Shuting Chen; Xiaogang Chen; Ying He

doi:10.3389/fnmol.2023.1177524

The month of walking alone and BDNF level differ between drug-naive first-episode schizophrenia patients and healthy controls

Front Mol Neurosci. 2023 May 10:16:1177524. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1177524. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Zhenmei Zhang¹, Lejia Fan¹, Liu Yuan¹, Zongchang Li¹, Lijun Ouyang¹, Xiaoqian Ma¹, Zihao Yang¹, Jingyan Lv¹, Shuting Chen¹, Xiaogang Chen^{1

2}, Ying He^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
² Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, China National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Institute of Mental Health, Hunan Medical Center for Mental Health, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.

Abstract

Introduction: Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder, characterized by impairment in reasoning, affectivity, and social relationships. Previous studies have shown delayed motor development and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) level change in individuals with schizophrenia. We researched the month of walking alone (MWA) and BDNF level between drug-naive first-episode schizophrenia patients (FEP) and healthy control (HC), as well as how they behave in neurocognitive function and severity of symptoms. Predictors of schizophrenia were further explored too.

Methods: We researched the MWA and BDNF levels between FEP and HCs in the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from August 2017 to January 2020, as well as how they behave in neurocognitive function and the severity of symptoms. A binary logistic regression analysis was used to examine the risk factors affecting the onset and treatment outcome of schizophrenia.

Results: We find that FEP showed a walking delay and lower BDNF levels compared to HCs, which were associated with cognitive impairment and severity of symptoms. According to the difference and correlation analysis results, and combined with the appropriate application conditions for binary logistic regression, Wechsler Intelligence Scale Picture completion, Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised, and Trail Making Test: part A were added to the binary logistic regression analysis to distinguish FEP and HCs.

Conclusion: Our study has shown delayed motor development and changes in BDNF levels in schizophrenia, extending insight into the early identification of patients with schizophrenia versus healthy populations.

Keywords: BDNF; first-episode schizophrenia patients (FEP); neurocognitive function; neurodevelopment; the month of walking alone.

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2021YFE0191400), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Number: 81871056), and the Scientific Research Launch Project for new employees of the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University.