Medical Bulletin 12/January/2024

Here are the top medical news of the day:

Volume of grey brain matter significantly lower in people with Early Onset Psychosis

New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience has found an association between a reduction in grey matter in the brain and Early Onset Psychosis (EOP).

The study, published in Molecular Psychiatry, is the largest ever brain imaging study in EOP and has provided unprecedented levels of detail about the illness. It shows that, in contrast to other mental health disorders, people with EOP have a reduced volume of grey matter across nearly all regions of their brain. Researchers hope that this detailed mapping could be used to assist in future diagnosis, as well as to track the effects of treatment in patients with EOP.

Reference: Volume of grey brain matter significantly lower in people with Early Onset Psychosis; Molecular Psychiatry, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02343-1

Traumatic stress associated with smaller brain region

Adults with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have smaller cerebellums, according to new research from a Duke-led brain imaging study.

The findings, published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, have prompted Huggins and her lab to start looking for what comes first: a smaller cerebellum that might make people more susceptible to PTSD, or trauma-induced PTSD that leads to cerebellum shrinkage.

The cerebellum, a part of the brain well known for helping to coordinate movement and balance, can influence emotion and memory, which are impacted by PTSD. What isn’t known yet is whether a smaller cerebellum predisposes a person to PTSD or PTSD shrinks the brain region.

Reference: Traumatic stress associated with smaller brain region; Molecular Psychiatry, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02352-0

Early menopause and HRT among hormonal factors linked to heightened rheumatoid arthritis risk

Early menopause—before the age of 45—taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and having 4 or more children are among several hormonal and reproductive factors linked to a heightened risk of rheumatoid arthritis in women, finds a large long term study published in the open access journal RMD Open.

While hormonal and reproductive factors are thought to contribute to women’s heightened susceptibility to the disease, it’s not entirely clear which factors might be particularly influential.

In a bid to find out, the researchers drew on 223,526 UK Biobank participants whose health was tracked for an average of 12 years.

Reference: Early menopause and HRT among hormonal factors linked to heightened rheumatoid arthritis risk; BMJ, RMD Open; DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003338