Temporal trends of blood-based markers in various psychiatric disorders and their cross-sectional brain structure associations

Abstract Background: Understanding the temporal trends of blood-based biomarkers and their associations with brain structure is crucial for early detection and intervention in psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to explore these trends in the decade before and after diagnosis, along with the cro...

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Main Authors: Yu-Jia Wang, Zairen Zhou, Yu-Zhu Li, Ju-Jiao Kang, Jin-Tai Yu, Jian-Feng Feng, Wei Cheng, Guoqing Pan, Jia You, Linbo Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-06-01
Series:Communications Medicine
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-025-00957-w
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author Yu-Jia Wang
Zairen Zhou
Yu-Zhu Li
Ju-Jiao Kang
Jin-Tai Yu
Jian-Feng Feng
Wei Cheng
Guoqing Pan
Jia You
Linbo Wang
author_facet Yu-Jia Wang
Zairen Zhou
Yu-Zhu Li
Ju-Jiao Kang
Jin-Tai Yu
Jian-Feng Feng
Wei Cheng
Guoqing Pan
Jia You
Linbo Wang
author_sort Yu-Jia Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background: Understanding the temporal trends of blood-based biomarkers and their associations with brain structure is crucial for early detection and intervention in psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to explore these trends in the decade before and after diagnosis, along with the cross-sectional relationships with brain structures. Methods: Utilizing UK Biobank data, we conducted a nested case-control analysis of individuals aged 40-69 years diagnosed with anxiety (n = 27,216), bipolar disorder (n = 1325), depression (n = 36,570), or schizophrenia (n = 1478) within 10 years of baseline. We used multivariable linear regression to analyze temporal trends and brain structure associations for 31 blood cell counts, 28 biochemistry markers, and 168 serum metabolites. Results: Here we show that compared to controls, significant temporal divergence is observed in 39, 6, 55, and 12 blood-based markers for anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia, respectively. Common biomarkers like cystatin C, red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and total bilirubin are identified. Biomarkers cluster into groups with either linear or non-linear trends. Among the linearly changing biomarkers, some have a widening difference from controls while others have a narrowing one. For example, in the case of depression, HDL-TG demonstrates an increasing disparity over time, while cholesterol exhibits a decreasing trend. Non-linear clusters often show reversals around diagnosis, indicating potential treatment effects. Differential associations are found between biomarkers and brain regions, including the orbitofrontal cortex, hippocampus, and accumbens. Conclusions: This study reveals the temporal trends of blood-based biomarkers in psychiatric disorders and their correlations with brain structure, aiding early detection and potentially enhancing clinical outcomes.
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spelling doaj-art-5cdcd98850f04557a609dc9fac741fa32025-08-20T02:37:35ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Medicine2730-664X2025-06-015111310.1038/s43856-025-00957-wTemporal trends of blood-based markers in various psychiatric disorders and their cross-sectional brain structure associationsYu-Jia Wang0Zairen Zhou1Yu-Zhu Li2Ju-Jiao Kang3Jin-Tai Yu4Jian-Feng Feng5Wei Cheng6Guoqing Pan7Jia You8Linbo Wang9Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan UniversityInstitute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan UniversityInstitute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan UniversityInstitute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan UniversityDepartment of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan UniversityInstitute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan UniversityInstitute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan UniversityInstitute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan UniversityInstitute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan UniversityInstitute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan UniversityAbstract Background: Understanding the temporal trends of blood-based biomarkers and their associations with brain structure is crucial for early detection and intervention in psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to explore these trends in the decade before and after diagnosis, along with the cross-sectional relationships with brain structures. Methods: Utilizing UK Biobank data, we conducted a nested case-control analysis of individuals aged 40-69 years diagnosed with anxiety (n = 27,216), bipolar disorder (n = 1325), depression (n = 36,570), or schizophrenia (n = 1478) within 10 years of baseline. We used multivariable linear regression to analyze temporal trends and brain structure associations for 31 blood cell counts, 28 biochemistry markers, and 168 serum metabolites. Results: Here we show that compared to controls, significant temporal divergence is observed in 39, 6, 55, and 12 blood-based markers for anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia, respectively. Common biomarkers like cystatin C, red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and total bilirubin are identified. Biomarkers cluster into groups with either linear or non-linear trends. Among the linearly changing biomarkers, some have a widening difference from controls while others have a narrowing one. For example, in the case of depression, HDL-TG demonstrates an increasing disparity over time, while cholesterol exhibits a decreasing trend. Non-linear clusters often show reversals around diagnosis, indicating potential treatment effects. Differential associations are found between biomarkers and brain regions, including the orbitofrontal cortex, hippocampus, and accumbens. Conclusions: This study reveals the temporal trends of blood-based biomarkers in psychiatric disorders and their correlations with brain structure, aiding early detection and potentially enhancing clinical outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-025-00957-w
spellingShingle Yu-Jia Wang
Zairen Zhou
Yu-Zhu Li
Ju-Jiao Kang
Jin-Tai Yu
Jian-Feng Feng
Wei Cheng
Guoqing Pan
Jia You
Linbo Wang
Temporal trends of blood-based markers in various psychiatric disorders and their cross-sectional brain structure associations
Communications Medicine
title Temporal trends of blood-based markers in various psychiatric disorders and their cross-sectional brain structure associations
title_full Temporal trends of blood-based markers in various psychiatric disorders and their cross-sectional brain structure associations
title_fullStr Temporal trends of blood-based markers in various psychiatric disorders and their cross-sectional brain structure associations
title_full_unstemmed Temporal trends of blood-based markers in various psychiatric disorders and their cross-sectional brain structure associations
title_short Temporal trends of blood-based markers in various psychiatric disorders and their cross-sectional brain structure associations
title_sort temporal trends of blood based markers in various psychiatric disorders and their cross sectional brain structure associations
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-025-00957-w
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