A longitudinal DNA methylation atlas and its link to brain structure and mental health - PubMed
6 hours ago
- #neurodevelopment
- #psychiatric disorders
- #DNA methylation
- Epigenetic mechanisms, particularly DNA methylation, play a role in neurodevelopmental vulnerability for psychiatric disorders.
- A longitudinal study using epigenome-wide DNA methylation and MRI data identified 18 co-regulated DNA methylation clusters.
- Ten of these clusters are enriched for brain-expressed genes involved in neuronal development and signaling.
- DNA methylation reductions in brain-related clusters correlate with cortical thinning and subcortical volume changes.
- DNA methylation changes are linked to increases in depressive symptoms, cannabis use, and binge drinking.
- Mediation models suggest DNA methylation acts as a bridge between behavior and brain changes.
- Specific clusters (C1 and C7) are associated with depressive and negative psychotic symptoms across adolescence.
- Coupling of these clusters with amygdala-striatal maturation indicates environmentally shaped affective-motivational neurodevelopment.
- Findings are reproducible in independent adult samples, highlighting consistency across age groups.