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Twin-singleton differences in neonatal brain structure.

Rebecca C Knickmeyer1, Chaeryon Kang, Sandra Woolson

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, United States of America. rebecca_knickmeyer@med.unc.edu

Twin Research and Human Genetics : the Official Journal of the International Society for Twin Studies
|June 1, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Brain development in newborns differs between twins and singletons. Monozygotic (MZ) twins show delayed gray matter growth in utero, followed by catch-up growth postnatally.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Twin studies indicate high heritability of brain volumes.
  • Heritability estimates for brain volumes vary with developmental stage.
  • Twin studies face criticism regarding generalizability due to intrauterine environmental differences.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare brain volumes between twins and singletons in the first month of life.
  • To investigate the relationship between brain volumes and gestational age in twins and singletons.
  • To assess potential perinatal environmental influences on early brain development.

Main Methods:

  • High-resolution MRI scans of the brain were acquired for 136 singletons and 154 twins (82 dizygotic, 72 monozygotic) within the first month of life.
  • Comparison of intracranial volume, white matter, gray matter, and ventricle volumes between twins and singletons.
  • Analysis of the relationship between brain volumes (total, cortical gray matter) and gestational age, comparing monozygotic and dizygotic twins.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in intracranial volume, total white matter, or ventricle volumes between twins and singletons.
  • Twins exhibited greater cerebrospinal fluid and frontal white matter volumes compared to singletons.
  • The relationship slope between total/cortical gray matter and gestational age was steeper in monozygotic twins versus dizygotic twins.

Conclusions:

  • Early brain development, particularly gray matter, may be delayed in utero for monozygotic twins, with subsequent postnatal catch-up growth.
  • Differences in brain volumes and growth trajectories between twins and singletons, and between MZ and DZ twins, should be considered in early life studies.
  • Perinatal environmental factors unique to twins may influence early brain development, impacting study interpretations.