Brain imaging studies in OCD patients have consistently shown abnormal activity in regions involved in decision-making (orbitofrontal cortex [OFC]) and transmission of sensory information (thalamus). The goal of this project was to explore molecular changes in these two brain regions, as well as the striatum, using postmortem brain tissue of people with OCD.

This study by Dr. Ahmari and her team found distinct genetic and molecular changes in these brain regions. Changes in certain genes, proteins, and the amount of both neurons and non-neuronal brain cells could serve as possible biomarkers for OCD. These changes are related to how neurons in these regions communicate information to each other. Additionally, the study found potential medication targets for OCD, as there was less activity of certain enzymes that regulate protein function in the thalamus.

Resulting Publication:

Piantadosi, S. C., McClain, L. L., Klei, L., Wang, J., Chamberlain, B. L., Springer, S. A., Lewis, D. A., Devlin, B., & Ahmari, S. E. (2021). Transcriptome alterations are enriched for synapse-associated genes in the striatum of subjects with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Translational Psychiatry, 11(1), 171. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-021-01290-1