White matter hyperintensities and vascular risk factors in monozygotic twins

Mara Ten Kate; Carole H Sudre; Anouk den Braber; Elles Konijnenberg; Michel G Nivard; M Jorge Cardoso; Philip Scheltens; Sébastien Ourselin; Dorret I Boomsma; Frederik Barkhof; Pieter Jelle Visser

doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.02.002

White matter hyperintensities and vascular risk factors in monozygotic twins

Neurobiol Aging. 2018 Jun:66:40-48. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.02.002. Epub 2018 Feb 10.

Affiliations

¹ Alzheimer Center, Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address: m.tenkate1@vumc.nl.
² Translational Imaging Group, Centre for Medical Image Computing (CMIC), University College London, London, UK.
³ Alzheimer Center, Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
⁴ Alzheimer Center, Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
⁵ Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
⁶ Translational Imaging Group, Centre for Medical Image Computing (CMIC), University College London, London, UK; Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
⁷ Alzheimer Center, Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Alzheimer Centre Limburg, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.

PMID: 29505954
DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.02.002

Abstract

Cerebral white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) have been associated with vascular risk factors, both of which are under genetic influence. We examined in a monozygotic twin sample whether the association between vascular risk and WMHs is influenced by overlapping genetic factors. We included 195 cognitively normal monozygotic twins (age = 70 ± 7 years), including 94 complete pairs. Regional WMH load was estimated using an automated algorithm. Vascular risk was summarized with the Framingham score. The within-twin pair correlation for total WMHs was 0.76 and for Framingham score was 0.77. Within participants, Framingham score was associated with total and periventricular WMHs (r = 0.32). Framingham score in 1 twin was also associated with total WMHs in the co-twin (r = 0.26). Up to 83% of the relation between both traits could be explained by shared genetic effects. In conclusion, monozygotic twins have highly similar vascular risk and WMH burden, confirming a genetic background for these traits. The association between both traits is largely driven by overlapping genetic factors.

Keywords: Monozygotic twins; Vascular risk factors; White matter hyperintensities.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Twin Study

MeSH terms

Aged
Cerebrovascular Disorders / etiology*
Female
Gene-Environment Interaction
Genes, Overlapping
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Middle Aged
Quantitative Trait, Heritable
Risk Factors
Twins, Monozygotic*
White Matter / diagnostic imaging*
White Matter / pathology*

Grants and funding

MR/J01107X/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom