Genome-wide scan of healthy human connectome discovers SPON1 gene variant influencing dementia severity.

ABSTRACT: Aberrant connectivity is implicated in many neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. However, other than a few disease-associated candidate genes, we know little about the degree to which genetics play a role in the brain networks; we know even less about specific genes that influence brain connections. Twin and family-based studies can generate estimates of overall genetic influences on a trait, but genome-wide association scans (GWASs) can screen the genome for specific variants influencing the brain or risk for disease. To identify the heritability of various brain connections, we scanned healthy young adult twins with high-field, high-angular resolution diffusion MRI. We adapted GWASs to screen the brain's connectivity pattern, allowing u

SUBMITTER: Jahanshad N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3606977 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature