Puberty differentially predicts brain maturation in male and female youth: A longitudinal ABCD Study

Dani Beck; Lia Ferschmann; Niamh MacSweeney; Linn B. Norbom; Thea Wiker; Eira Aksnes; Valerie Karl; Fanny Dégeilh; Madelene Holm; Kathryn L. Mills; Ole A. Andreassen; Ingrid Agartz; Lars T. Westlye; Tilmann von Soest; Christian K. Tamnes

Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience (Jun 2023)

Puberty differentially predicts brain maturation in male and female youth: A longitudinal ABCD Study

Dani Beck,
Lia Ferschmann,
Niamh MacSweeney,
Linn B. Norbom,
Thea Wiker,
Eira Aksnes,
Valerie Karl,
Fanny Dégeilh,
Madelene Holm,
Kathryn L. Mills,
Ole A. Andreassen,
Ingrid Agartz,
Lars T. Westlye,
Tilmann von Soest,
Christian K. Tamnes

Affiliations

Dani Beck: Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway; NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway; Corresponding author at: Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Lia Ferschmann: PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
Niamh MacSweeney: Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Linn B. Norbom: Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway; NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
Thea Wiker: Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway; NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
Eira Aksnes: Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway; NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
Valerie Karl: NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
Fanny Dégeilh: Univ Rennes, CNRS, Inria, Inserm, IRISA UMR 6074, EMPENN – ERL U 1228, Rennes, France
Madelene Holm: NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
Kathryn L. Mills: PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
Ole A. Andreassen: NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Norway
Ingrid Agartz: Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway; NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Lars T. Westlye: NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway; KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Norway
Tilmann von Soest: PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
Christian K. Tamnes: Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway; NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 61
p. 101261

Abstract

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Research has demonstrated associations between pubertal development and brain maturation. However, existing studies have been limited by small samples, cross-sectional designs, and inconclusive findings regarding directionality of effects and sex differences.We examined the longitudinal temporal coupling of puberty status assessed using the Pubertal Development Scale (PDS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based grey and white matter brain structure. Our sample consisted of 8896 children and adolescents at baseline (mean age = 9.9) and 6099 at follow-up (mean age = 11.9) from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study cohort.Applying multigroup Bivariate Latent Change Score (BLCS) models, we found that baseline PDS predicted the rate of change in cortical thickness among females and rate of change in cortical surface area for both males and females. We also found a correlation between baseline PDS and surface area and co-occurring changes over time in males. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) analyses revealed correlated change between PDS and fractional anisotropy (FA) for both males and females, but no significant associations for mean diffusivity (MD).Our results suggest that pubertal status predicts cortical maturation, and that the strength of the associations differ between sex. Further research spanning the entire duration of puberty is needed to understand the extent and contribution of pubertal development on the youth brain.

Published in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience

ISSN: 1878-9293 (Print); 1878-9307 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Science: Physiology: Neurophysiology and neuropsychology
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/developmental-cognitive-neuroscience/

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