Genome-wide association studies of brain imaging phenotypes in UK Biobank

Nature. 2018 Oct;562(7726):210-216. doi: 10.1038/s41586-018-0571-7. Epub 2018 Oct 10.

Abstract

The genetic architecture of brain structure and function is largely unknown. To investigate this, we carried out genome-wide association studies of 3,144 functional and structural brain imaging phenotypes from UK Biobank (discovery dataset 8,428 subjects). Here we show that many of these phenotypes are heritable. We identify 148 clusters of associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms and imaging phenotypes that replicate at P < 0.05, when we would expect 21 to replicate by chance. Notable significant, interpretable associations include: iron transport and storage genes, related to magnetic susceptibility of subcortical brain tissue; extracellular matrix and epidermal growth factor genes, associated with white matter micro-structure and lesions; genes that regulate mid-line axon development, associated with organization of the pontine crossing tract; and overall 17 genes involved in development, pathway signalling and plasticity. Our results provide insights into the genetic architecture of the brain that are relevant to neurological and psychiatric disorders, brain development and ageing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aging / genetics
  • Biological Specimen Banks*
  • Brain / anatomy & histology
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging*
  • Brain / growth & development
  • Brain / pathology
  • Datasets as Topic
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / genetics
  • Extracellular Matrix
  • Female
  • Genome-Wide Association Study*
  • Heredity*
  • Humans
  • Iron / metabolism
  • Male
  • Neuroimaging*
  • Neuronal Plasticity / genetics
  • Phenotype*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / genetics*
  • Putamen / anatomy & histology
  • Putamen / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • United Kingdom
  • White Matter / anatomy & histology
  • White Matter / metabolism
  • White Matter / pathology

Substances

  • Epidermal Growth Factor
  • Iron