Twins methods quantitatively explore the genetic impact on children and adolescents brain gray matter volume

Xiao-Lu Chen,Lian-Sheng Zhao,Hua-Qing Meng,Qian He,Xiao Hou,Xiao-Mei Hu,Tao Li,Ying-Cheng Wang,Yi-Xiao Fu,Xiao Li,Xing-Shun Ma,Xiao-Wei Zhang

doi:10.1038/s41598-017-03962-9

Abstract

The gray matter volumes of 58 pairs of twins ranging in age from 12 to 18 were measured by MRI to explore the genetic and environmental impacts on gray matter volume in twin children and adolescents. By means of A/C/E structural equation modeling, it was found that the gray matter volume in children and adolescents was jointly affected by genetic (A: 0.89) and environmental factors while genetic factors play a greater role. The gray matter volume in frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe and lateral temporal lobe was mainly affected by genetics (A: 0.7–0.89), where as the gray matter volume in medial temporal lobe and cingulate cortex was affected by both genetics and environment.

Highlights

Physiological function and pathological changes have always been the focus of brain research while the brain structure serves as the cornerstone that influences the brain function and disease occurrence
Studies have shown that brain MRI has played a significant role in observing the whole brain volume and even cortex volume changes[4], making the quantification of genetic and environmental impact on brain volume becomes possible in combination with twin study
Most of foreign brain MRI studies focus on the genetic and environmental impact on the whole brain volume in adults, with their results showing that the heritability of the whole brain volume in adults ranges from 0.7–0.95

Summary

Introduction

Physiological function and pathological changes have always been the focus of brain research while the brain structure serves as the cornerstone that influences the brain function and disease occurrence. Studies have shown that brain MRI has played a significant role in observing the whole brain volume and even cortex volume changes[4], making the quantification of genetic and environmental impact on brain volume becomes possible in combination with twin study. Most of foreign brain MRI studies focus on the genetic and environmental impact on the whole brain volume in adults, with their results showing that the heritability of the whole brain volume in adults ranges from 0.7–0.95. Geschwind et al.[6] found that the heritability of gray matter volume in adult occipital lobe is about 0.28, while the rest region of adult brain is approximately 0.4–0.56. Wallace et al.[9] carried out a further study on this topic, the results presented an increasing trend in terms of the heritability of gray matter volume from neonates to adolescents and a decreasing trend from adolescents to adults

Methods

Results

Conclusion