Heritability of Memory Functions and Related Brain Volumes: A Schizophrenia Spectrum Study of 214 Twins

Abstract

Background: Memory performance is heritable and shares partial genetic etiology with schizophrenia. How the genetic overlap between memory and schizophrenia is related to intelligence (IQ) and brain volumes has not been formally tested using twin modeling. Methods: A total of 214 twins were recruited nationwide by utilization of the Danish registers, including monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs concordant or discordant for a schizophrenia spectrum disorder and healthy control pairs. Memory/IQ assessments and MRI scans were performed and structural equation modeling was applied to examine the genetic and environmental effects and to quantify associations with schizophrenia liability. Result..