Childhood trauma, including various forms of abuse and neglect, significantly increases the risk of developing schizophrenia later in life. Early-life adversities can profoundly disrupt normal brain development trajectories. Brain imaging research has highlighted trauma-associated brain alterations in individuals with schizophrenia, such as reduced gray matter volume in multiple brain regions and cortical thinning. For example, a recent MRI study by our research group revealed associations between childhood trauma and reduced frontal gray matter volume in a transdiagnostic cohort of bipolar-I and schizophrenia patients, as well as healthy controls.
The retina, derived from the same ectodermal layer as the brain, shares several structural and functional similarities with the central nervous system. Both the retina and the brain feature layered structures containing neurons and glial cells, which has led to the retina being recognized as a “window to the brain.” Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), a noninvasive imaging technique, provides in vivo visualization and quantitative measurements of retinal and macular thickness. In neurological disorders, retinal thinning has been linked to neurodegenerative changes in the brain, and emerging research has identified retinal thinning in individuals with schizophrenia. However, the relationship between childhood trauma and retinal thinning in schizophrenia remains less explored.
This study aims to bridge this gap by applying OCT to investigate neurodevelopmental alterations in schizophrenia. Specifically, we aim to:
1) Examine neurodevelopmental changes by assessing retinal structures in individuals with schizophrenia.
2) Explore the impact of childhood trauma on retinal thinning as a potential biomarker in schizophrenia.
3) Investigate inflammation as a potential mediator in the relationship between childhood trauma and retinal thinning.