Brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met variant on brain volumes in infants

Yukako Kawasaki, Kenichi Oishi, Antonette Hernandez, Thomas Ernst, Dan Wu, Yoshihisa Otsuka, Can Ceritoglu, Linda Chang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has many important roles in neurogenesis and neuronal health. BDNF is also involved in learning and memory. Individuals with BDNF-Val66Met variant (Met +) are at higher risk for neuropsychiatric disorders and have smaller hippocampi and amgydalae compared to those without this variant (Met −). Whether these smaller brain volumes are already present at birth is unknown and were evaluated. 66 newborn infants were genotyped for BDNF-rs6265 and had brain MRI scans. The T1-weighted images were automatically parcellated for hippocampus and amygdala, as well as the intracranial volume (ICV), total brain volume, total gray and white matter, using a multi-atlas label fusion method implemented in the MRICloud (https://braingps.anatomyworks.org). The segmented brain volumes were normalized to the ICV for group comparisons. The two infant groups were not different in their demographics and birth characteristics. However, compared to Met − infants, the Met + infants had smaller hippocampi (p = 0.013), smaller amygdalae (p = 0.041), and less steep age-related declines in total brain volume and % white matter volume. The smaller relative hippocampal and amygdala volumes in Met + infants suggest that the Met + genotype affected prenatal developmental processes. In addition, the slower age-dependent declines in the relative total brain and white matter volumes of the Met + group in this cross-sectional dataset suggest the BDNF-Val66Met variant might have an ongoing negative influence on the postnatal developmental processes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)919-925
Number of pages7
JournalBrain Structure and Function
Volume226
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2021

Keywords

  • BDNF
  • Brain volume
  • Infant
  • Morphometry

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Anatomy
  • General Neuroscience
  • Histology

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