{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Intracranial Volume Is Driven by Both Genetics and Early Life Exposures: The SOL-INCA-MRI Study.
{Author}: Sofer T;Granot-Hershkovitz E;Tarraf W;Filigrana P;Isasi CR;Suglia SF;Kaplan R;Taylor K;Daviglus ML;Testai FD;Zeng D;Cai J;Fornage M;González HM;DeCarli C;
{Journal}: Ethn Dis
{Volume}: 34
{Issue}: 2
{Year}: 2024 Feb
{Factor}: 2.006
{DOI}: 10.18865/ed.34.2.103
{Abstract}: Intracranial volume (ICV) reflects maximal brain development and is associated with later-life cognitive abilities. We quantified ICV among first- and second-generation Hispanic and Latino adults from the Study of Latinos-Investigation of Cognitive Aging - MRI (SOL-INCA-MRI), estimated ICV heritability, and tested its associations with previously reported genetic variants, both individually and as a genetic risk score (GRS). We also estimated the association of ICV with early life environmental measures: nativity or age of immigration and parental education. The estimated heritability of ICV was 19% (95% CI, 0.1%-56%) in n=1781 unrelated SOL-INCA-MRI individuals. Four of 10 tested genetic variants were associated with ICV and an increase of 1 SD of the ICV-GRS was associated with an increase of 10.37 cm3 in the ICV (95% CI, 5.29-15.45). Compared to being born in the continental United States, immigrating to the United States at age 11 years or older was associated with 24 cm3 smaller ICV (95% CI, -39.97 to -8.06). Compared to both parents having less than high-school education, at least 1 parent completing high-school education was associated with 15.4 cm3 greater ICV (95% CI, 4.46-26.39). These data confirm the importance of early life health on brain development.