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Risperidone alters key brain regions in schizophrenia, with future imaging tools offering insights into its long-term effects and neural mechanisms.  

A study published in June 2025 issue of Frontiers in Psychiatry explored how risperidone influences brain function and symptom improvement in schizophrenia (SZ) using advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques.  

Researchers summarized the existing evidence on the effects of risperidone treatment on gray matter, white matter, and functional brain activity and connectivity in individuals with SZ.  

They reviewed the literature on risperidone treatment for SZ by systematically searching PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Relevant studies were analyzed and synthesized to identify alterations in brain structure and function, including changes in gray matter, white matter, and functional activity associated with risperidone use.  

The results showed that risperidone treatment in individuals with SZ significantly influenced brain structure and function, particularly in the prefrontal lobe, temporal lobe, cingulate gyrus, corona radiata, basal ganglia, and corpus callosum.  

Investigators concluded that the long-term effects of risperidone on brain structure and function in SZ remained underexplored and highlighted the potential value of advanced imaging techniques such as diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI), diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI), and brain covariance network analysis for future research. 

Source: frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1590886/full