Open AccessSignatures of life course socioeconomic conditions in brain anatomy
Author(s) -
LouedKhenissi Leyla,
Trofimova Olga,
Vollenweider Peter,
MarquesVidal Pedro,
Preisig Martin,
Lutti Antoine,
Kliegel Matthias,
Sandi Carmen,
Kherif Ferhat,
Stringhini Silvia,
Draganski Bogdan
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.25807
Subject(s) - brain size , cuneus , psychology , myelin , socioeconomic status , neuroscience , brain morphometry , life course approach , temporal lobe , developmental psychology , population , biology , medicine , cognition , central nervous system , magnetic resonance imaging , precuneus , environmental health , radiology , epilepsy
Abstract Socioeconomic status (SES) plays a significant role in health and disease. At the same time, early‐life conditions affect neural function and structure, suggesting the brain may be a conduit for the biological embedding of SES. Here, we investigate the brain anatomy signatures of SES in a large‐scale population cohort aged 45–85 years. We assess both gray matter morphometry and tissue properties indicative of myelin content. Higher life course SES is associated with increased volume in several brain regions, including postcentral and temporal gyri, cuneus, and cerebellum. We observe more widespread volume differences and higher myelin content in the sensorimotor network but lower myelin content in the temporal lobe associated with childhood SES. Crucially, childhood SES differences persisted in adult brains even after controlling for adult SES, highlighting the unique contribution of early‐life conditions to brain anatomy, independent of later changes in SES. These findings inform on the biological underpinnings of social inequality, particularly as they pertain to early‐life conditions.