Greater male than female variability in regional brain structure across the lifespan

Authors: Wierenga, L.M., Akudjedu, T.N. et al.

Journal: Human Brain Mapping

Volume: 43

Issue: 1

Pages: 470-499

eISSN: 1097-0193

ISSN: 1065-9471

DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25204

Abstract:

For many traits, males show greater variability than females, with possible implications for understanding sex differences in health and disease. Here, the ENIGMA (Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis) Consortium presents the largest-ever mega-analysis of sex differences in variability of brain structure, based on international data spanning nine decades of life. Subcortical volumes, cortical surface area and cortical thickness were assessed in MRI data of 16,683 healthy individuals 1-90 years old (47% females). We observed significant patterns of greater male than female between-subject variance for all subcortical volumetric measures, all cortical surface area measures, and 60% of cortical thickness measures. This pattern was stable across the lifespan for 50% of the subcortical structures, 70% of the regional area measures, and nearly all regions for thickness. Our findings that these sex differences are present in childhood implicate early life genetic or gene-environment interaction mechanisms. The findings highlight the importance of individual differences within the sexes, that may underpin sex-specific vulnerability to disorders.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/34689/

Source: Scopus

Greater male than female variability in regional brain structure across the lifespan.

Authors: Wierenga, L.M., Akudjedu, T.N. et al.

Journal: Hum Brain Mapp

Volume: 43

Issue: 1

Pages: 470-499

eISSN: 1097-0193

DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25204

Abstract:

For many traits, males show greater variability than females, with possible implications for understanding sex differences in health and disease. Here, the ENIGMA (Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis) Consortium presents the largest-ever mega-analysis of sex differences in variability of brain structure, based on international data spanning nine decades of life. Subcortical volumes, cortical surface area and cortical thickness were assessed in MRI data of 16,683 healthy individuals 1-90 years old (47% females). We observed significant patterns of greater male than female between-subject variance for all subcortical volumetric measures, all cortical surface area measures, and 60% of cortical thickness measures. This pattern was stable across the lifespan for 50% of the subcortical structures, 70% of the regional area measures, and nearly all regions for thickness. Our findings that these sex differences are present in childhood implicate early life genetic or gene-environment interaction mechanisms. The findings highlight the importance of individual differences within the sexes, that may underpin sex-specific vulnerability to disorders.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/34689/

Source: PubMed

Greater male than female variability in regional brain structure across the lifespan

Authors: Wierenga, L.M., Akudjedu, T.N. et al.

Journal: HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING

Volume: 43

Issue: 1

Pages: 470-499

eISSN: 1097-0193

ISSN: 1065-9471

DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25204

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/34689/

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

Greater male than female variability in regional brain structure across the lifespan

Authors: Wierenga, L.M., Doucet, G.E., Dima, D., Agartz, I., Aghajani, M., Akudjedu, T.N. and ENIGMA Lifespan Working Group

Journal: Human Brain Mapping

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

ISSN: 1065-9471

Abstract:

For many traits, males show greater variability than females, with possible implications for understanding sex differences in health and disease. Here, the ENIGMA (Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics through Meta‐Analysis) Consortium presents the largest‐ever mega‐analysis of sex differences in variability of brain structure, based on international data spanning nine decades of life. Subcortical volumes, cortical surface area and cortical thickness were assessed in MRI data of 16,683 healthy individuals 1‐90 years old (47% females). We observed significant patterns of greater male than female between‐subject variance for all subcortical volumetric measures, all cortical surface area measures, and 60% of cortical thickness measures. This pattern was stable across the lifespan for 50% of the subcortical structures, 70% of the regional area measures, and nearly all regions for thickness. Our findings that these sex differences are present in childhood implicate early life genetic or gene‐environment interaction mechanisms. The findings highlight the importance of individual differences within the sexes, that may underpin sex‐specific vulnerability to disorders.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/34689/

Source: Manual

Greater male than female variability in regional brain structure across the lifespan.

Authors: Wierenga, L.M., Akudjedu, T.N. et al.

Journal: Human brain mapping

Volume: 43

Issue: 1

Pages: 470-499

eISSN: 1097-0193

ISSN: 1065-9471

DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25204

Abstract:

For many traits, males show greater variability than females, with possible implications for understanding sex differences in health and disease. Here, the ENIGMA (Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis) Consortium presents the largest-ever mega-analysis of sex differences in variability of brain structure, based on international data spanning nine decades of life. Subcortical volumes, cortical surface area and cortical thickness were assessed in MRI data of 16,683 healthy individuals 1-90 years old (47% females). We observed significant patterns of greater male than female between-subject variance for all subcortical volumetric measures, all cortical surface area measures, and 60% of cortical thickness measures. This pattern was stable across the lifespan for 50% of the subcortical structures, 70% of the regional area measures, and nearly all regions for thickness. Our findings that these sex differences are present in childhood implicate early life genetic or gene-environment interaction mechanisms. The findings highlight the importance of individual differences within the sexes, that may underpin sex-specific vulnerability to disorders.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/34689/

Source: Europe PubMed Central

Greater male than female variability in regional brain structure across the lifespan

Authors: Wierenga, L.M., Akudjedu, T.N. et al.

Journal: Human Brain Mapping

Volume: 43

Issue: 1

Pages: 470-499

ISSN: 1065-9471

Abstract:

For many traits, males show greater variability than females, with possible implications for understanding sex differences in health and disease. Here, the ENIGMA (Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics through Meta‐Analysis) Consortium presents the largest‐ever mega‐analysis of sex differences in variability of brain structure, based on international data spanning nine decades of life. Subcortical volumes, cortical surface area and cortical thickness were assessed in MRI data of 16,683 healthy individuals 1‐90 years old (47% females). We observed significant patterns of greater male than female between‐subject variance for all subcortical volumetric measures, all cortical surface area measures, and 60% of cortical thickness measures. This pattern was stable across the lifespan for 50% of the subcortical structures, 70% of the regional area measures, and nearly all regions for thickness. Our findings that these sex differences are present in childhood implicate early life genetic or gene‐environment interaction mechanisms. The findings highlight the importance of individual differences within the sexes, that may underpin sex‐specific vulnerability to disorders.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/34689/

Source: BURO EPrints