SynthesisMolecular psychiatry2021
Epigenome-wide meta-analysis of blood DNA methylation and its association with subcortical volumes: findings from the ENIGMA Epigenetics Working Group.
Open access · hybridAbstract readMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph
Synthesis in Molecular psychiatry, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 37 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.
0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
37citing papers in PubMed, 6 pooled it
3.0field-weighted citation impact, top 8% of its field
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
37 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 56 citations in OpenAlex.
- DNA methylation signatures of bilateral hippocampal volume, asymmetry and atrophy: a cross-omics analysis in the general population.EBioMedicine · 2026Pooled it
- Epigenome-wide association study of global cortical volumes in generation Scotland: Scottish family health study.Epigenetics · 2022Pooled it
- DNA methylation signatures of aggression and closely related constructs: A meta-analysis of epigenome-wide studies across the lifespan.Molecular psychiatry · 2021Pooled it
- Challenges and opportunities for neuroimaging in young patients with traumatic brain injury: a coordinated effort towards advancing discovery from the ENIGMA pediatric moderate/severe TBI group.Brain imaging and behavior · 2021Pooled it
- ENIGMA and global neuroscience: A decade of large-scale studies of the brain in health and disease across more than 40 countries.Translational psychiatry · 2020Pooled it
- Epigenome-wide Association Study of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms in Adults.Biological psychiatry · 2019Pooled it
- A longitudinal DNA methylation atlas and its link to brain structure and mental health.Molecular psychiatry · 2026Article
- Genome-wide DNA methylation profiling in COVID-19 positive patients reveals alterations in pathways linked to neurological dysfunction.Clinical epigenetics · 2026Article
- Consortium profile: the methylation, imaging and NeuroDevelopment (MIND) consortium.Molecular psychiatry · 2026Review
- Adolescent multi-omics and Mendelian randomization reveal transdiagnostic molecular mechanisms in psychiatric disorders.Nature. Mental health · 2026Article
- The Peripheral Epigenome Predicts White Matter Volume Contingent on Developmental Stage: An ECHO Study.Molecular neurobiology · 2025Article
- Epigenetic clocks and DNA methylation biomarkers of brain health and disease.Nature reviews. Neurology · 2025Review
- Peripheral DNA Methylation of Cortisol- and Serotonin-Related Genes Predicts Hippocampal Volume in a Pediatric Population.Biological psychiatry global open science · 2025Article
- Whole Blood DNA Methylation Analysis Reveals Epigenetic Changes Associated with ARSACS.Cerebellum (London, England) · 2025Article
- Intermediate endophenotypes and epigenetic mechanisms of psychiatric disorders.Imaging neuroscience (Cambridge, Mass.) · 2025Article
- The Promise of Epigenetic Editing for Treating Brain Disorders.Sub-cellular biochemistry · 2025Review
- Epigenetic age acceleration and neurotrophin signaling pathways in cancer-related cognitive impairment: a longitudinal, prospective cohort study.Frontiers in aging · 2025Article
- Integrative omics analysis reveals epigenomic and transcriptomic signatures underlying brain structural deficits in major depressive disorder.Translational psychiatry · 2024Article
- An industrialized diet as a determinant of methylation in the 1F region of theFrontiers in nutrition · 2024Article
- Aerobic exercise alters DNA hydroxymethylation levels in an experimental rodent model of temporal lobe epilepsy.Epilepsy & behavior reports · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
82 authors at 20 institutions in 12 countries.
Tianye JiaSocial, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5399-2953
Congying ChuSocial, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Yun LiuMOE Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5753-1265
Jenny van DongenVrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Dept Biological Psychology, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2063-8741
Evangelos PapastergiosSocial, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Nicola J ArmstrongMathematics and Statistics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia.
Mark E BastinBrain Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, and Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh (MEB), Edinburgh, UK.
Tania Carrillo-RoaDepartment of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max-Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr, 2-10 80804, Munich, Germany.
Anouk den BraberVrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Dept Biological Psychology, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Mathew HarrisCentre for Clinical Brain Sciences and Edinburgh Imaging, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1135-4141
Rick JansenDepartment of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3333-6737
Jingyu LiuDepartment of Electrical Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1724-7523
Michelle LucianoCentre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7306-3008
Anil P S OriUCLA Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Roberto Roiz SantiañezDepartment of Psychiatry, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain.
Barbara RuggeriSocial, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Daniil SarkisyanBox 591, Uppsala biomedicinska centrum BMC, Husarg. 3, 751 24, Uppsala, Sweden.
Jean ShinHospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7353-5178
Kim SungeunCenter for Neuroimaging, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Diana Tordesillas GutiérrezDepartment of Psychiatry, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain.
Dennis Van't EntVrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Dept Biological Psychology, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
David AmesNational Ageing Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
Eric ArtigesInstitut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, INSERM Unit 1000 "Neuroimaging & Psychiatry", University Paris Sud-Paris Saclay, University Paris Descartes, Orsay, France.
Georgy BakalkinBox 591, Uppsala biomedicinska centrum BMC, Husarg. 3, 751 24, Uppsala, Sweden.
Tobias BanaschewskiDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Square J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4595-1144
Arun L W BokdeDiscipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Henry BrodatyCentre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9487-6617
Uli BrombergUniversity Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, House W34, 3.OG, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4974-971X
Rachel BrouwerDepartment of Psychiatry and Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Christian BüchelUniversity Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, House W34, 3.OG, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
Erin Burke QuinlanSocial, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2927-1632
Wiepke CahnDepartment of Psychiatry and Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0482-8759
Greig I de ZubicarayFaculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4506-0579
Stefan EhrlichDivision of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Germany.
Tomas J EkströmDepartment of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Herta FlorDepartment of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Square J5, Mannheim, Germany.
Juliane H FröhnerDepartment of Psychiatry and Neuroimaging Center, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
Vincent FrouinNeuroSpin, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9360-6623
Hugh GaravanDepartments of Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Vermont, 05405, Burlington, VT, USA.
Penny GowlandSir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, UK.
Andreas HeinzCharité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Jacqueline HoareDepartment of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Bernd IttermannPhysikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Neda JahanshadImaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging & Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Marina del Rey, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4401-8950
Jiyang JiangCentre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2147-6302
John B KwokCentral Clinical School-Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia.
Nicholas G MartinGenetic Epidemiology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Jean-Luc MartinotInstitut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, INSERM Unit 1000 "Neuroimaging & Psychiatry", University Paris Sud-Paris Saclay, University Paris Descartes, Orsay, France.
Karen A MatherCentre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Katie L McMahonHerston Imaging Research Facility, School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6357-615X
Allan F McRaeInstitute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5286-5485
Frauke NeesDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Square J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany.
Dimitri Papadopoulos OrfanosNeuroSpin, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1242-8990
Tomáš PausBloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital and Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M6A 2E1, Canada.
Luise PoustkaDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre Göttingen, von-Siebold-Str. 5, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
Philipp G SämannDepartment of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max-Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr, 2-10 80804, Munich, Germany.
Peter R SchofieldNeuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2967-9662
Michael N SmolkaDepartment of Psychiatry and Neuroimaging Center, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5398-5569
Dan J SteinDepartment of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Lachlan T StrikeQueensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Jalmar TeeuwUCLA Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Anbupalam ThalamuthuCentre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Julian TrollorCentre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Henrik WalterCharité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9403-6121
Joanna M WardlawBrain Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Dementia Research Centre, and Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9812-6642
Wei WenCentre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Robert WhelanSchool of Psychology and Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Liana G ApostolovaDepartment of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Elisabeth B BinderDepartment of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max-Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr, 2-10 80804, Munich, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7088-6618
Dorret I BoomsmaVrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Dept Biological Psychology, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7099-7972
Vince CalhounDepartment of Electrical Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9058-0747
Benedicto Crespo-FacorroDepartment of Psychiatry, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain.
Ian J DearyCentre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Hilleke Hulshoff PolDepartment of Psychiatry and Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Roel A OphoffDepartment of Psychiatry and Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Zdenka PausovaHospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Perminder S SachdevCentre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9595-3220
Andrew SaykinRadiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1376-8532
Margaret J WrightGenetic Epidemiology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7133-4970
Paul M Thompson *Imaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging & Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Marina del Rey, CA, USA.
Gunter Schumann *Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7740-6469
Sylvane DesrivièresSocial, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK. sylvane.desrivieres@kcl.ac.uk.
UNSW Sydney · AUKing's College London · GBUniversity of Edinburgh · GBVrije Universiteit Amsterdam · NLIndiana University School of MedicineMax Planck Institute of Psychiatry · DETechnische Universität Dresden · DEUniversidad de Cantabria · ESUniversity Medical Center Utrecht · NLUniversity of California, Los Angeles · USCommissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives · FRHeidelberg University · DEHumboldt-Universität zu Berlin · DEInserm · FRQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute · AUQueensland University of Technology · AUThe University of Queensland · AUTrinity College Dublin · IEUniversität Hamburg · DEUniversity of Southern California · US
Funding
Training U54EB020403 · NIBIB · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · PI THOMPSON, PAUL M · 2014 to 2018
$10.1MENIGMA World Aging CenterR56AG058854 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · PI THOMPSON, PAUL M · 2018 to 2018
$683kBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council BB/F019394/1European Research Council 695313Medical Research Council G0701120Medical Research Council G1001245Medical Research Council MR/M013111/1Medical Research Council MR/N000390/1Medical Research Council MR/N027558/1Medical Research Council MR/R00465X/1MRF_ MRF-058-0004-RG-DESRIMRF_ MRF-058-0009-RG-DESR-C0759NIA NIH HHS R56 AG058854NIBIB NIH HHS U54 EB020403
Abstract
DNA methylation, which is modulated by both genetic factors and environmental exposures, may offer a unique opportunity to discover novel biomarkers of disease-related brain phenotypes, even when measured in other tissues than brain, such as blood. A few studies of small sample sizes have revealed associations between blood DNA methylation and neuropsychopathology, however, large-scale epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) are needed to investigate the utility of DNA methylation profiling as a peripheral marker for the brain. Here, in an analysis of eleven international cohorts, totalling 3337 individuals, we report epigenome-wide meta-analyses of blood DNA methylation with volumes of the hippocampus, thalamus and nucleus accumbens (NAcc)-three subcortical regions selected for their associations with disease and heritability and volumetric variability. Analyses of individual CpGs revealed genome-wide significant associations with hippocampal volume at two loci. No significant associations were found for analyses of thalamus and nucleus accumbens volumes. Cluster-based analyses revealed additional differentially methylated regions (DMRs) associated with hippocampal volume. DNA methylation at these loci affected expression of proximal genes involved in learning and memory, stem cell maintenance and differentiation, fatty acid metabolism and type-2 diabetes. These DNA methylation marks, their interaction with genetic variants and their impact on gene expression offer new insights into the relationship between epigenetic variation and brain structure and may provide the basis for biomarker discovery in neurodegeneration and neuropsychiatric conditions.
Indexed as
DNA MethylationEpigenomeCpG IslandsEpigenesis, GeneticGenome-Wide Association StudyHumans
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