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Heritability of the shape of subcortical brain structures in the general population

Author

Listed:
  • Gennady V. Roshchupkin

    (Erasmus MC
    Erasmus MC)

  • Boris A. Gutman

    (Imaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Marina del Rey)

  • Meike W. Vernooij

    (Erasmus MC
    Erasmus MC)

  • Neda Jahanshad

    (Imaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Marina del Rey)

  • Nicholas G. Martin

    (QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute)

  • Albert Hofman

    (Erasmus MC
    Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)

  • Katie L. McMahon

    (Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland)

  • Sven J. van der Lee

    (Erasmus MC)

  • Cornelia M. van Duijn

    (Erasmus MC
    Translational Epidemiology, Faculty Science, Leiden University)

  • Greig I. de Zubicaray

    (Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology)

  • André G. Uitterlinden

    (Erasmus MC)

  • Margaret J. Wright

    (Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland
    Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland)

  • Wiro J. Niessen

    (Erasmus MC
    Erasmus MC
    Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology)

  • Paul M. Thompson

    (Imaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Marina del Rey)

  • M. Arfan Ikram

    (Erasmus MC
    Erasmus MC
    Erasmus MC)

  • Hieab H. H. Adams

    (Erasmus MC
    Erasmus MC)

Abstract

The volumes of subcortical brain structures are highly heritable, but genetic underpinnings of their shape remain relatively obscure. Here we determine the relative contribution of genetic factors to individual variation in the shape of seven bilateral subcortical structures: the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, caudate, hippocampus, pallidum, putamen and thalamus. In 3,686 unrelated individuals aged between 45 and 98 years, brain magnetic resonance imaging and genotyping was performed. The maximal heritability of shape varies from 32.7 to 53.3% across the subcortical structures. Genetic contributions to shape extend beyond influences on intracranial volume and the gross volume of the respective structure. The regional variance in heritability was related to the reliability of the measurements, but could not be accounted for by technical factors only. These findings could be replicated in an independent sample of 1,040 twins. Differences in genetic contributions within a single region reveal the value of refined brain maps to appreciate the genetic complexity of brain structures.

Suggested Citation

  • Gennady V. Roshchupkin & Boris A. Gutman & Meike W. Vernooij & Neda Jahanshad & Nicholas G. Martin & Albert Hofman & Katie L. McMahon & Sven J. van der Lee & Cornelia M. van Duijn & Greig I. de Zubica, 2016. "Heritability of the shape of subcortical brain structures in the general population," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms13738
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13738
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