Decomposing complex links between the childhood environment and brain structure in school-aged youth

Childhood experiences play a profound role in conferring risk and resilience for brain and behavioral development. However, how different facets of the environment shape neurodevelopment remains largely unknown. Here we sought to decompose heterogeneous relationships between environmental factors an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Developmental cognitive neuroscience 2021-04, Vol.48, p.100919, Article 100919
Main Authors: Hong, Seok-Jun, Sisk, Lucinda M., Caballero, Camila, Mekhanik, Anthony, Roy, Amy K., Milham, Michael P., Gee, Dylan G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adolescent Development
Adversity
Brain
Brain development
Child
Childhood
Cognition
Environment
Female
Humans
Male
Neuroanatomy
Original Research
Psychopathology
Schools
Subtyping
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Summary:Childhood experiences play a profound role in conferring risk and resilience for brain and behavioral development. However, how different facets of the environment shape neurodevelopment remains largely unknown. Here we sought to decompose heterogeneous relationships between environmental factors and brain structure in 989 school-aged children from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. We applied a cross-modal integration and clustering approach called ‘Similarity Network Fusion’, which combined two brain morphometrics (i.e., cortical thickness and myelin-surrogate markers), and key environmental factors (i.e., trauma exposure, neighborhood safety, school environment, and family environment) to identify homogeneous subtypes. Depending on the subtyping resolution, results identified two or five subgroups, each characterized by distinct brain structure–environment profiles. Notably, more supportive caregiving and school environments were associated with greater myelination, whereas less supportive caregiving, higher family conflict and psychopathology, and higher perceived neighborhood safety were observed with greater cortical thickness. These subtypes were highly reproducible and predicted externalizing symptoms and overall mental health problems. Our findings support the theory that distinct environmental exposures are differentially associated with alterations in structural neurodevelopment. Delineating more precise associations between risk factors, protective factors, and brain development may inform approaches to enhance risk identification and optimize interventions targeting specific experiences.
ISSN:1878-9293
1878-9307
DOI:10.1016/j.dcn.2021.100919