Genes Shape the Brain – New Study Uncovers Genetic Influences on Brain Structure

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Featured Publication, Computational Health, ING, June 13, 2025

An international study led by Helmholtz Munich and Forschungszentrum Jülich has identified genetic factors that influence the shape of subcortical brain regions – advancing beyond previous research that focused primarily on brain volume. The findings open new avenues for the early detection of neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Beyond Volume: The Significance of Brain Shape

The study examined 22 subcortical brain structures, including the cerebellum, using imaging and genetic data from nearly 20,000 healthy participants in the UK Biobank. Unlike earlier studies that concentrated on size or surface area, this research focused on the precise geometry of brain structures. It employed the Laplace-Beltrami spectrum – a mathematical method to characterize the shape of each structure through a sequence of values, producing a unique “shape fingerprint.”

To explore genetic influences, the researchers conducted a multivariate genome-wide association study (GWAS) for each brain region. This approach enabled the simultaneous analysis of multiple shape-related features.

“In this way, we identified 80 genetic variants associated with the Laplace-Beltrami spectrum – essentially, the shape – of at least one of the 22 subcortical brain structures we analyzed,” explains co-author Sabrina Primus from Helmholtz Munich. “The most striking finding was in the brainstem, where 37 of these variants were relevant – more than for any other region.”

Links to Health Risks

Several of the identified genetic variants have previously been associated with conditions such as high blood pressure, neurodegenerative diseases, alcohol use, and psychiatric disorders. These overlaps suggest that structural changes in brain shape could serve as early indicators of vulnerability to certain health conditions.

This study offers valuable new insights into the genetic architecture of brain morphology. It emphasizes the importance of shape-based metrics in neuroscience and lays the foundation for future diagnostic tools that leverage subtle structural changes in the brain.