Co-methylation networks associated with cognition and structural brain development during adolescence

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Epigenetics
• Developmental Biology

Background:

• Adolescent neurodevelopment involves changes in grey matter (GM) volume, myelination (fractional anisotropy - FA), and cognitive function.
• Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation (DNAm), are hypothesized to play a role in these developmental processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between DNA methylation patterns and adolescent brain development.
• To identify specific co-methylation networks associated with cognitive and neuroimaging measures during adolescence.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study of normally developing adolescents (ages 9-14).
• Collected cognitive assessments, saliva DNAm, and neuroimaging data (GM, FA).
• Utilized weighted gene correlation network analysis (WCGNA) to identify co-methylation networks and assessed their association with brain and cognitive measures.

Main Results:

• Observed an increase in correlated epigenetic changes throughout adolescence.
• Identified co-methylation networks enriched for neuronal pathways (e.g., potassium channels, neurexins, neuroligins).
• These networks were conserved over time and associated with maturation in GM, FA, and cognitive performance.

Conclusions:

• Correlated DNAm changes in neuronal genes are linked to adolescent brain maturation.
• These findings suggest potential epigenetic mechanisms underlying cognitive and brain development during adolescence.