Brain structural connectivity during adrenarche: Associations between hormone levels and white matter microstructure

Marjolein EA Barendse; Julian G Simmons; Michelle L Byrne; Marc L Seal; George Patton; Lisa Mundy; Stephen J Wood; Craig A Olsson; Nicholas B Allen; Sarah Whittle

Journal article

Brain structural connectivity during adrenarche: Associations between hormone levels and white matter microstructure

Marjolein EA Barendse, Julian G Simmons, Michelle L Byrne, Marc L Seal, George Patton, Lisa Mundy, Stephen J Wood, Craig A Olsson, Nicholas B Allen, Sarah Whittle

PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY | PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD | Published : 2018

DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.11.009

Abstract

Levels of the adrenal hormones dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), its sulfate (DHEAS), and testosterone, have all been linked to behavior and mental health during adrenarche, and preclinical studies suggest that these hormones influence brain development. However, little is known about how variation in these hormones is associated with white matter structure during this period of life. The current study aimed to examine associations between DHEA, DHEAS, and testosterone, and white matter microstructure during adrenarche. To avoid the confounding effect of age on hormone levels, we tested these associations in 87 children within a narrow age range (mean age 9.56 years, SD=0.34) but varying in hor..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Sarah Whittle Author Psychiatry

Stephen Wood Author Centre for Youth Mental Health

Craig Olsson Author Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences

Nick Allen Author Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences

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Grants

Awarded by Australian Research Council (ARC)

Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)

Funding Acknowledgements

The authors declare no competing financial interests. This work was supported by the Australian Research Council (ARC; DP120101402). Marjolein Barendse was supported by a Melbourne International Engagement Award. Sarah Whittle was supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Career Development Fellowship (GNT1125504). Julian Simmons was supported by a Melbourne Neurosciences Institute Fellowship.