Heritability of head size in Dutch and Australian twin families at ages 0–50 years

D.J.A. Smit, M. Luciano, M. Bartels, C.E.M. van Beijsterveldt, M.J. Wright, N. Hansell, H.G. Brunner, G.F. Estourgie-van Burk, E.J.C. de Geus, N.G. Martin, D.I. Boomsma

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

We assessed the heritability of head circumference, an approximation of brain size, in twin-sib families of different ages. Data from the youngest participants were collected a few weeks after birth and from the oldest participants around age 50 years. In nearly all age groups the largest part of the variation in head circumference was explained by genetic differences. Heritability estimates were 90% in young infants (4 to 5 months), 85-88% in early childhood, 83-87% in adolescence, 75% in young and mid adulthood. In infants younger than 3 months, heritability was very low or absent. Quantitative sex differences in heritability were observed in 15- and 18-year-olds, but there was no evidence for qualitative sex differences, that is, the same genes were expressed in both males and females. Longitudinal analysis of the data between 5, 7, and 18 years of age showed high genetic stability (.78 > R
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)370-380
JournalTwin Research and Human Genetics
Volume13
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010

Cohort Studies

  • Netherlands Twin Register (NTR)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Heritability of head size in Dutch and Australian twin families at ages 0–50 years'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this