Brain Star Award Winner Maira Belen Blasco

A reduction in the number of connexions between brain cells is seen in the early stages of psychosis and is associated with negative symptoms.

Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder typically emerging in adolescence or early adulthood. It is thought to occur because of alteration in the maturation or pruning of connexions between neurons called synapses. While this theory, called the synaptic theory is supported by genetic, stem cell and studies of brain of deceased patients, direct evidence to support this theory in living patients was doubtful. Maira Belen Blasco, working in the laboratory of Dr. Romina Mizrahi at the Douglas Research Centre, McGill University, investigated whether difference in the density of synapses could be seen in first-episode psychosis (FEP) and in clinical high risk (CHR) patients using positron emission tomography (PET). They found that synaptic density was reduced during the early stages of psychosis and its risk states and associated with negative symptoms.

 In this study, a total of 49 participants were analyzed, including 16 patients with first episode psychosis (FEP), 17 patients at clinical high risk (CHR) of developing psychosis, and 16 healthy controls.
Synaptic density was reduced in both FEP and CHR patients compared to healthy controls. Interestingly, the researchers also noted synaptic density was lower in cannabis users. Moreover, lower synaptic density across groups was associated with more negative symptoms.

The importance of this studies lies in advancing our understanding of synaptic dysfunction in early psychosis while also providing possible clinical targets.

About Maira Belen Blasco

As principal author Dr. Blasco played a central role in every aspect of this project. Dr. Blasco graduated as a Medical Doctor at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. With a strong clinical background, including a psychiatry residency, she brought valuable expertise to the study. She is currently a PhD Candidate in the Integrated program in neuroscience at McGill University. This project was conducted as part of her work within the Clinical and Translational Science (CaTS) Lab (https://www.mcgill.ca/romina-mizrahi-cats-lab/). You can learn more about her background and experience on her Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maira-bel%C3%A9n-blasco-ba4947186/

Source of funding

This work was partially funded by a Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) grant (APP400704). Initial pilot funding was granted from the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (formerly NARSAD) in a young investigator award under Dr Mizrahi’s mentorship; however, this study was initiated and completely carried out in Montreal with partial CIHR (APP400704) funding. Maira Belen Blasco received funding from Fonds de Recherche du Québec – Santé doctoral scholarship (348199) and partial funding from the Dolansky and Stratas Foundation during the conduct of the study.