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A global study led by the USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute (Stevens INI) aims to map structural brain changes in people with bipolar disorder, a chronic mental illness that currently lacks biological tools for diagnosis and treatment.
The research initiative, funded by the National Institutes of Health, brings together more than 230 psychiatric researchers worldwide under the Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics through Meta Analysis (ENIGMA) Consortium’s Bipolar Disorder Working Group. The project will analyze brain scans from 3,500 individuals with bipolar disorder and 8,500 healthy controls across 45 research centers.
Christopher R.K. Ching, assistant professor of research neurology at Stevens INI, will lead the study in collaboration with Matthew Kempton of King’s College London. “By combining existing brain imaging and clinical data samples from leading research groups around the world, we are hoping to break new ground in mapping the brain signatures of BD as well as how they compare to other conditions like major depressive disorder, which share similar risk factors, symptoms, and treatments,” Ching said.
The research team will employ voxel-based morphometry, an advanced analysis method that enables precise mapping of subtle structural changes throughout the brain. This technique differs from traditional neuroimaging approaches by avoiding the averaging of features across larger predefined brain regions, allowing researchers to examine emotion and reward processing centers affected by bipolar disorder in detail.
The study will also investigate the cerebellum, a brain region previously associated primarily with motor control. Recent research suggests this area may play a vital role in cognitive processes and could function differently in individuals with mental illness.
Kempton, who recently applied a similar methodology in a study of early-onset psychosis, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration. “We found widespread reductions in gray but not white matter volume in those with early onset psychosis using the ENIGMA VBM tool, and we are excited to be collaborating with Dr. Ching and ENIGMA-BD to map brain abnormalities in bipolar disorder. Using this methodology will allow us to map the changes in brain structure in remarkable detail in such a large sample,” he said.
The project’s scope surpasses traditional studies, which typically involve fewer than 100 participants. By pooling existing datasets from diverse populations worldwide, the researchers aim to enhance statistical power for identifying subtle brain alterations and improve the findings’ generalizability.
Paul M. Thompson, ENIGMA Consortium director and Stevens INI associate director, highlighted the project’s importance. “By analyzing the largest-ever worldwide data collection, Dr. Ching is discovering the brain circuitry involved in bipolar disorder and how commonly prescribed medications influence the brain. Neuroimaging data has not been studied at this scale, and Dr. Ching’s global team is creating new leads to optimize treatment,” Thompson said.
The research will also conduct the largest-ever comparison between bipolar disorder and major depression, analyzing data from 22,500 participants across 133 cohorts. This analysis aims to identify shared and unique brain signatures between the conditions to improve diagnosis accuracy and treatment selection.
Stevens INI Director Arthur W. Toga emphasized the institute’s role in advancing brain mapping research. “This new project embodies our dedication to coordinating and applying our expertise to large-scale studies that can directly impact public health. The findings mark an essential step to revolutionize how we diagnose and treat mood disorders, offering hope to millions of individuals and families affected worldwide,” Toga said.
By leveraging advanced imaging techniques and unprecedented sample sizes, researchers hope to identify reliable biological markers for improved diagnosis and treatment of the condition.
