Researchers investigated the role of neuronal degeneration in tardive dyskinesia (TD) by analyzing cerebral regional homogeneity (ReHo) using resting-state functional MRI in patients with schizophrenia, both with and without TD, and healthy controls. Significant ReHo variations were found in specific brain regions of patients with TD, indicating altered neural connectivity. These variations were correlated with the severity of TD symptoms, highlighting ReHo’s potential in understanding TD’s etiology and progression.

TD, associated with dopamine receptor antagonism, has been previously linked to cerebral structural and functional changes. This study’s focus on ReHo provided deeper insights into the functional connectivity and neural abnormalities in TD. By comparing ReHo across different groups, the research shed light on the underlying neural mechanisms of TD, suggesting the value of ReHo as a tool for understanding and potentially treating TD more effectively in schizophrenia.

Reference: Yu T, Li Y, Li N. Regional Homogeneity in schizophrenia patients with tardive dyskinesia: a resting-state fMRI study. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging. 2023;335:111724. doi: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2023.111724.