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Early-life metal exposure and schizophrenia: A proof-of-concept study using novel tooth-matrix biomarkers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2020

A. Modabbernia*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, United States Seaver Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, United States Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, United States
E. Velthorst
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, United States Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
C. Gennings
Affiliation:
Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, United States
L. De Haan
Affiliation:
Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
C. Austin
Affiliation:
Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, United States
A. Sutterland
Affiliation:
Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
J. Mollon
Affiliation:
Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, England United Kingdom
S. Frangou
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, United States Psychosis Research Program, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, United States
R. Wright
Affiliation:
Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, United States
M. Arora
Affiliation:
Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, United States
A. Reichenberg
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, United States Seaver Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, United States Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, United States Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, United States
*
Corresponding author at: Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L. Levy Pl, New York, NY 10029, United States, [email protected].
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Abstract

Background

Despite evidence for the effects of metals on neurodevelopment, the long-term effects on mental health remain unclear due to methodological limitations. Our objective was to determine the feasibility of studying metal exposure during critical neurodevelopmental periods and to explore the association between early-life metal exposure and adult schizophrenia.

Methods

We analyzed childhood-shed teeth from nine individuals with schizophrenia and five healthy controls. We investigated the association between exposure to lead (Pb2+), manganese (Mn2+), cadmium (Cd2+), copper (Cu2+), magnesium (Mg2+), and zinc (Zn2+), and schizophrenia, psychotic experiences, and intelligence quotient (IQ). We reconstructed the dose and timing of early-life metal exposures using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Results

We found higher early-life Pb2+ exposure among patients with schizophrenia than controls. The differences in log Mn2+ and log Cu2+ changed relatively linearly over time to postnatal negative values. There was a positive correlation between early-life Pb2+ levels and psychotic experiences in adulthood. Moreover, we found a negative correlation between Pb2+ levels and adult IQ.

Conclusions

In our proof-of-concept study, using tooth-matrix biomarker that provides direct measurement of exposure in the fetus and newborn, we provide support for the role of metal exposure during critical neurodevelopmental periods in psychosis.

Type
Original article
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2016

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