Schizophrenia (SZ), one of the most disabling mental illnesses, is also associated with increased medical comorbidity and a 20-year shorter life-span than the general population, which together suggest that SZ is characterized by accelerated aging. To examine that hypothesis, this application for a 5-year renewal of our R01 in SZ represents a unique opportunity to evaluate 10-year trajectories of aging in persons with SZ and healthy comparison subjects (HCs), and to expand the focus to examine serious real world consequences (physical comorbidity and mortality), potentially modifiable risk factors, and inflammatory and cellular markers of aging. Per our original proposal, employing a Multi-Cohort Longitudinal Design (MCLD), we have developed a sex- and age-stratified cohort of 140 subjects with SZ and 120 HCs, aged 26-65 years at baseline. These participants are evaluated clinically every year, and with a panel of selected markers representative of biological aging in alternate years. The biomarkers include systemic measures of inflammatory processes (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein or hs-CRP, along with another cytokine and two chemokines), metabolic dysregulation (Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance; HOMA-IR), oxidative stress (F2- isoprostanes), and cellular aging (telomere length). We are currently in the 49th month of the 5-year project, but are proposing this competitive renewal prior to its completion, to avoid a gap in funding and ensure retention of this invaluable, well-characterized existing cohort. Our retention rate has been excellent (95% annually for SZ). We have preliminary evidence consistent with accelerated biological aging in SZ; however, a 10-year expanded study with additional novel aims and innovative measures is necessary to characterize consequences and risk factors of acceleration, and examine the mechanistic role of gene expression and signaling pathways related to inflammation. The proposed renewal has been designed and informed by our initial findings, and by the evolving literature on inflammation and other biological and cellular mechanisms of aging. During the next five years, we will continue to evaluate trajectories of the current biomarkers, while adding novel measures of inflammatory signaling, and inflammation and cellular aging transcriptomic profiles (?inflammaging?). We will enhance our characterization of physical comorbidity and behaviors, including using mobile assessment of physical activity and everyday functioning, and increase the frequency of biomarker assessments to every 18 months. This project is related to the NIMH Strategic Objective # 2: charting mental illness trajectories to determine when, where, and how to intervene. Demonstrating the presence and characterizing the patterns of accelerated biological aging in SZ will significantly advance understanding of the real-world consequences, risk factors, and underlying mechanisms, which together will inform new ways of predicting, tracking, and treating the serious medical co-morbidities and reducing mortality in SZ. The ultimate goal is to improve the overall health and increase the life-span of people living with SZ.

Public Health Relevance

Schizophrenia is one of the most serious and disabling mental illnesses, and is associated with increased risk of physical diseases and mortality. The goals of the proposed study are to determine the extent of accelerated biological aging in schizophrenia, with a focus on inflammatory processes (?inflammaging?), determine consequences for physical health, and identify modifiable risk factors. Understanding mechanisms underlying biological aging, its consequences, and malleable risk and protective factors at an individual level, may lead to development of new preventive and therapeutic interventions for reducing the excess medical comorbidity and mortality in schizophrenia.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH094151-10
Application #
10091525
Study Section
Adult Psychopathology and Disorders of Aging Study Section (APDA)
Program Officer
Rowland, Laura Marie
Project Start
2012-05-01
Project End
2022-02-28
Budget Start
2021-03-01
Budget End
2022-02-28
Support Year
10
Fiscal Year
2021
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California, San Diego
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
804355790
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92093
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Lee, Ellen E; Liu, Jinyuan; Tu, Xin et al. (2018) A widening longevity gap between people with schizophrenia and general population: A literature review and call for action. Schizophr Res 196:9-13
Nguyen, Tanya T; Eyler, Lisa T; Jeste, Dilip V (2018) Systemic Biomarkers of Accelerated Aging in Schizophrenia: A Critical Review and Future Directions. Schizophr Bull 44:398-408
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Jeste, Dilip V; Eglit, Graham M L; Palmer, Barton W et al. (2018) Supported Decision Making in Serious Mental Illness. Psychiatry 81:28-40
Jeste, Dilip V (2018) International Psychogeriatrics turns a new page: new editor begins his term. Int Psychogeriatr 30:1-3
Jeste, Dilip V; Palmer, Barton W; Saks, Elyn R (2017) Why We Need Positive Psychiatry for Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders. Schizophr Bull 43:227-229
Lee, Ellen E; Hong, Suzi; Martin, Averria Sirkin et al. (2017) Inflammation in Schizophrenia: Cytokine Levels and Their Relationships to Demographic and Clinical Variables. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 25:50-61
Hong, Suzi; Lee, Ellen E; Martin, Averria Sirkin et al. (2017) Abnormalities in chemokine levels in schizophrenia and their clinical correlates. Schizophr Res 181:63-69
Jeste, Dilip V (2016) Growth of the Journal from Age 8 to 23: An Exciting and Joyous Journey for a Proud Guardian. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 24:2-5

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