Sex differences in the relationship between the vascular endothelial growth factor and cognition in drug-naïve schizophrenia

IF 3.6 2区医学 Q1 PSYCHIATRY

Schizophrenia Research Pub Date : 2025-02-16 DOI:10.1016/j.schres.2025.02.002

Xiaoxiao Sun , Ying Xu , Yanqing Wu , Meijuan Li , Yuying Qiu , Qiao Su , Jiayue Wang , Jie Li , Fuqiang Mao

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

This study investigates the sex-specific relationship between plasma Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) levels and cognitive performance in drug-naïve schizophrenia (DNS) patients, focusing on longitudinal changes.

Methods

A total of 175 DNS patients and 80 healthy controls (HCs) completed the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). VEGF levels were measured via ELISA, and DNS patients were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Partial correlations and multiple linear regressions were used to evaluate the relationships between VEGF, cognition, and symptom severity, adjusting for demographic and clinical factors.

Results

Female DNS patients showed greater cognitive impairments than female HCs (all P < 0.05), while male DNS patients had specific deficits in Attention/Vigilance (P = 0.027) and Working Memory (P = 0.002). Among females, baseline VEGF levels were inversely correlated with psychotic symptoms, including PANSS Positive symptom scores (r = −0.281) and PANSS total scores (r = −0.224). Additionally, baseline VEGF levels were positively associated with cognitive performance, including Processing Speed (r = 0.302), Neurocognition (r = 0.193), and the MCCB total score (r = 0.201). In males, baseline VEGF levels showed a trend toward predicting less severe negative symptoms at the 8-week (β = −0.42, P = 0.060), though not statistically significant.

Conclusion

VEGF may protect cognition in female DNS patients through neuroprotective or anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Higher VEGF levels in females were linked to better cognition and milder symptoms over time. These findings suggest VEGF as a potential sex-specific biomarker for schizophrenia, warranting further investigation.

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来源期刊

Schizophrenia Research 医学-精神病学

CiteScore

7.50

自引率

8.90%

发文量

429

审稿时长

10.2 weeks

期刊介绍： As official journal of the Schizophrenia International Research Society (SIRS) Schizophrenia Research is THE journal of choice for international researchers and clinicians to share their work with the global schizophrenia research community. More than 6000 institutes have online or print (or both) access to this journal - the largest specialist journal in the field, with the largest readership! Schizophrenia Research''s time to first decision is as fast as 6 weeks and its publishing speed is as fast as 4 weeks until online publication (corrected proof/Article in Press) after acceptance and 14 weeks from acceptance until publication in a printed issue. The journal publishes novel papers that really contribute to understanding the biology and treatment of schizophrenic disorders; Schizophrenia Research brings together biological, clinical and psychological research in order to stimulate the synthesis of findings from all disciplines involved in improving patient outcomes in schizophrenia.