Open AccessGreater male than female variability in regional brain structure across the lifespan
Author(s) -
Wierenga Lara M,
Doucet Gaelle E,
Dima Danai,
Agartz Ingrid,
Aghajani Moji,
Akudjedu Theophilus N,
AlbajesEizagirre Anton,
Alnæs Dag,
Alpert Kathryn I,
Andreassen Ole A,
Anticevic Alan,
Asherson Philip,
Banaschewski Tobias,
Bargallo Nuria,
Baumeister Sarah,
BaurStreubel Ramona,
Bertolino Alessandro,
Bonvino Aurora,
Boomsma Dorret I,
Borgwardt Stefan,
Bourque Josiane,
Braber Anouk,
Brandeis Daniel,
Breier Alan,
Brodaty Henry,
Brouwer Rachel M,
Buitelaar Jan K,
Busatto Geraldo F,
Calhoun Vince D,
CanalesRodríguez Erick J,
Can Dara M,
Caseras Xavier,
Castellanos Francisco X,
ChaimAvancini Tiffany M,
Ching Christopher RK,
Clark Vincent P,
Conrod Patricia J,
Conzelmann Annette,
Crivello Fabrice,
Davey Christopher G,
Dickie Erin W,
Ehrlich Stefan,
Ent Dennis,
Fisher Simon E,
Fouche JeanPaul,
Franke Barbara,
FuentesClaramonte Paola,
Geus Eco JC,
Di Giorgio Annabella,
Glahn David C,
Gotlib Ian H,
Grabe Hans J,
Gruber Oliver,
Gruner Patricia,
Gur Raquel E,
Gur Ruben C,
Gurholt Tiril P,
Haan Lieuwe,
Haatveit Beathe,
Harrison Ben J,
Hartman Catharina A,
Hatton Sean N,
Heslenfeld Dirk J,
Heuvel Odile A,
Hickie Ian B,
Hoekstra Pieter J,
Hohmann Sarah,
Holmes Avram J,
Hoogman Martine,
Hosten Norbert,
Howells Fleur M,
Hulshoff Pol Hilleke E,
Huyser Chaim,
Jahanshad Neda,
James Anthony C,
Jiang Jiyang,
Jönsson Erik G,
Joska John A,
Kalnin Andrew J,
Klein Marieke,
Koenders Laura,
Kolskår Knut K,
Krämer Bernd,
Kuntsi Jonna,
Lagopoulos Jim,
Lazaro Luisa,
Lebedeva Irina S,
Lee Phil H,
Lochner Christine,
Machielsen Marise WJ,
Maingault Sophie,
Martin Nicholas G,
MartínezZalacaín Ignacio,
MataixCols David,
Mazoyer Bernard,
McDonald Brenna C,
McDonald Colm,
McIntosh Andrew M,
McMahon Katie L,
McPhilemy Genevieve,
Meer Dennis,
Menchón José M,
Naaijen Jilly,
Nyberg Lars,
Oosterlaan Jaap,
Paloyelis Yannis,
Pauli Paul,
Pergola Giulio,
PomarolClotet Edith,
Portella Maria J,
Radua Joaquim,
Reif Andreas,
Richard Geneviève,
Roffman Joshua L,
Rosa Pedro GP,
Sacchet Matthew D,
Sachdev Perminder S,
Salvador Raymond,
Sarró Salvador,
Satterthwaite Theodore D,
Saykin Andrew J,
Serpa Mauricio H,
Sim Kang,
Simmons Andrew,
Smoller Jordan W,
Sommer Iris E,
SorianoMas Carles,
Stein Dan J,
Strike Lachlan T,
Szeszko Philip R,
Temmingh Henk S,
Thomopoulos Sophia I,
Tomyshev Alexander S,
Trollor Julian N,
Uhlmann Anne,
Veer Ilya M,
Veltman Dick J,
Voineskos Aristotle,
Völzke Henry,
Walter Henrik,
Wang Lei,
Wang Yang,
Weber Bernd,
Wen Wei,
West John D,
Westlye Lars T,
Whalley Heather C,
Williams Steven CR,
Wittfeld Katharina,
Wolf Daniel H,
Wright Margaret J,
Yoncheva Yuliya N,
Zanetti Marcus V,
Ziegler Georg C,
Zubicaray Greig I,
Thompson Paul M,
Crone Eveline A,
Frangou Sophia,
Tamnes Christian K
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
human brain mapping
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.005
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1097-0193
pISSN - 1065-9471
DOI - 10.1002/hbm.25204
Subject(s) - brain morphometry , vulnerability (computing) , psychology , brain size , sex characteristics , demography , developmental psychology , biology , neuroscience , medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , genetics , computer security , sociology , computer science , radiology
For many traits, males show greater variability than females, with possible implications for understanding sex differences in health and disease. Here, the ENIGMA (Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics through Meta‐Analysis) Consortium presents the largest‐ever mega‐analysis of sex differences in variability of brain structure, based on international data spanning nine decades of life. Subcortical volumes, cortical surface area and cortical thickness were assessed in MRI data of 16,683 healthy individuals 1‐90 years old (47% females). We observed significant patterns of greater male than female between‐subject variance for all subcortical volumetric measures, all cortical surface area measures, and 60% of cortical thickness measures. This pattern was stable across the lifespan for 50% of the subcortical structures, 70% of the regional area measures, and nearly all regions for thickness. Our findings that these sex differences are present in childhood implicate early life genetic or gene‐environment interaction mechanisms. The findings highlight the importance of individual differences within the sexes, that may underpin sex‐specific vulnerability to disorders.