Alzheimer's Disease Risk Gene,GAB2, is Associated with Regional Brain Volume Differences in 755 Young Healthy Twins

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: The development of late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) is under strong genetic control and there is great interest in the genetic variants that confer increased risk. The Alzheimer's disease risk gene, growth factor receptor bound protein 2-associated protein (GAB2), has been shown to provide a 1.27-1.51 increased odds of developing LOAD for rs7101429 major allele carriers, in case-control analysis. GAB2 is expressed across the brain throughout life, and its role in LOAD pathology is well understood. Recent studies have begun to examine the effect of genetic variation in the GAB2 gene on differences in the brain. However, the effect of GAB2 on the young adult brain has yet to be considered. Here we found a significant association between the GAB2 gene and morphological brain differences in 755 young adult twins (469 females) (M = 23.1, SD = 3.1 years), using a gene-based test with principal components regression (PCReg). Detectable differences in brain morphology are therefore associated with variation in the GAB2 gene, even in young adults, long before the typical age of onset of Alzheimer's disease.

Source: Twin Research and Human Genetics

DOI: 10.1017/thg.2012.15

Authors: Derrek P. Hibar, Neda Jahanshad, Jason L. Stein, Omid Kohannim, Arthur W. Toga, Sarah E. Medland, Narelle K. Hansell, Katie L. McMahon, Greig I. de Zubicaray, Grant W. Montgomery, Nicholas G. Martin, Margaret J. Wright, Paul M. Thompson

Institutions: University of California, Los Angeles, Broad Institute, Harvard University, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, The University of Queensland

Language: English

Topic: Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Medical Research Council, National Health and Medical Research Council, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

OpenAlex ID: W2128430959