Links between parental internalizing disorder severity and default mode network connectivity in adolescent offspring

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Internalizing disorders are associated with altered default mode network (DMN) resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC).
• Offspring of parents with internalizing disorders face increased risk.
• Parental depression and anxiety history may impact adolescent DMN RSFC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between parental depression and anxiety severity and adolescent DMN RSFC.
• To explore how parental internalizing disorders influence offspring brain connectivity.

Main Methods:

• 116 parent-adolescent dyads (youth aged 11-17) were studied.
• Parental and adolescent internalizing disorders assessed via interviews and questionnaires.
• Adolescent DMN RSFC measured using resting-state fMRI (mPFC, PCC, LPC).

Main Results:

• Increased parental depressive severity correlated with increased adolescent RSFC between the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and right lateral parietal cortex (LPC).
• Adolescent internalizing symptoms were linked to decreased RSFC between the right LPC and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC).

Conclusions:

• Parental depression severity is associated with altered DMN RSFC in offspring with a parental history of depression or anxiety.
• Findings suggest a potential neurobiological link between parental mental health and adolescent brain function.
• Study limitations include modest sample size and cross-sectional design.