Increased Brain Volumes and Cortical Surface Area in Adolescents and Young Adults at Increased Genetic Risk for Bipolar Affective Disorder

Rhoshel Lenroot¹, ², Pui Ka Yeung², Gloria Roberts¹, Clare McCormack¹, Michael Breakspear¹, ³, Melissa Green¹, Andrew Frankland¹, Adam Wright¹, Phoebe Lau¹, Florence Levy¹, Herng Chan¹, Dusan Hadzi-Pavlovic¹, Philip Mitchell¹

Characterization of brain morphometry in individuals at elevated genetic risk for Bipolar Affective Disorder may illuminate early stages of the disorder and identify potential endophenotypes. Structural MRI images were acquired in 85 adolescents and young adults at elevated genetic risk for BPD and 84 matched control subjects. Brain volumes, cortical surface area and thickness were examined using an automated method. At-risk subjects had increased brain volumes and surface area, including regions such as the anterior cingulate and insula, but cortical thickness was not different. These finding suggest surface area may be a useful endophenotype for genetic studies of BPAD.