Brain structure in healthy adults is related to serum transferrin and the H63D polymorphism in the HFE gene.

ABSTRACT: Control of iron homeostasis is essential for healthy central nervous system function: iron deficiency is associated with cognitive impairment, yet iron overload is thought to promote neurodegenerative diseases. Specific genetic markers have been previously identified that influence levels of transferrin, the protein that transports iron throughout the body, in the blood and brain. Here, we discovered that transferrin levels are related to detectable differences in the macro- and microstructure of the living brain. We collected brain MRI scans from 615 healthy young adult twins and siblings, of whom 574 were also scanned with diffusion tensor imaging at 4 Tesla. Fiber integrity was assessed by using the diffusion tensor imaging-based measure of fractional anisotropy. In bivariate genetic mo

SUBMITTER: Jahanshad N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3325658 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature