Polygenic Risk, Psychopathology, and Personalized Functional Brain Network Topography in Adolescence.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Genetics
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Functional brain networks are influenced by genetics and behavior.
• Understanding the developmental relationship between genetic risk and brain network organization is crucial for uncovering psychopathology mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the associations between transdiagnostic polygenic risk scores (PRSs), personalized functional brain networks (PFNs), and the general psychopathology factor (p-factor) in early adolescence.

Main Methods:

• Utilized baseline data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, including 11,873 children aged 9-10.
• Calculated PRSs for transdiagnostic genetic factors (PRS-F1, PRS-F2) and derived PFN topography from fMRI scans.
• Assessed p-factor using youth and parent mental health reports.

Main Results:

• PFN topography was found to be heritable.
• PRS-F1 was associated with the p-factor (r=0.12).
• Interindividual differences in PFN topography correlated with p-factor (r=0.12), PRS-F1 (r=0.05), and PRS-F2 (r=0.08).

Conclusions:

• Polygenic risk for adult psychopathology is associated with both the p-factor and heritable PFN topography in early adolescence.
• These findings contribute to understanding the developmental pathways of psychopathology.