Involvement of the BDNF Gene in Loneliness in Adolescence: A Report of Opposite Gene Effects in Boys and Girls

Maaike Verhagen; Eeske van Roekel; Rutger C. M. E. Engels

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0092768

Involvement of the BDNF Gene in Loneliness in Adolescence: A Report of Opposite Gene Effects in Boys and Girls

Maaike Verhagen^*
, Eeske van Roekel
, Rutger C. M. E. Engels

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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Abstract

Previous research has shown that loneliness has a heritable component and that genes within the serotonin-, dopamine-, and oxytocin systems are related to loneliness in adolescence. In the present study, the relation between the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and loneliness in adolescent boys and girls was examined in a longitudinal study spanning five annual waves (N = 305). Latent growth curve modeling (LGCM) was used to examine the baseline level and the change in loneliness over time. The main finding was that the BDNF gene was not related to loneliness in the total sample. A BDNF by sex interaction was found, in that Met carrying girls had the highest levels of loneliness at baseline, whereas in boys the ValVal genotype was related to higher levels of loneliness. Our results underline the importance of sex-stratified analyses when examining effects of the BDNF genotype and the necessity of conducting gene studies to intermediate phenotypes of loneliness.

Original language	English
Article number	e92768
Number of pages	8
Journal	PLoS ONE
Volume	9
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0092768
Publication status	Published - 19-Mar-2014

Keywords

FACTOR VAL66MET POLYMORPHISM
FACTOR VAL(66)MET POLYMORPHISM
REDUCED HIPPOCAMPAL VOLUMES
RECEPTOR GENE
ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS
INDIVIDUAL-DIFFERENCES
MAJOR DEPRESSION
PARENTAL SUPPORT
SOCIAL-ISOLATION
HEALTHY-SUBJECTS

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title = "Involvement of the BDNF Gene in Loneliness in Adolescence: A Report of Opposite Gene Effects in Boys and Girls",

abstract = "Previous research has shown that loneliness has a heritable component and that genes within the serotonin-, dopamine-, and oxytocin systems are related to loneliness in adolescence. In the present study, the relation between the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and loneliness in adolescent boys and girls was examined in a longitudinal study spanning five annual waves (N = 305). Latent growth curve modeling (LGCM) was used to examine the baseline level and the change in loneliness over time. The main finding was that the BDNF gene was not related to loneliness in the total sample. A BDNF by sex interaction was found, in that Met carrying girls had the highest levels of loneliness at baseline, whereas in boys the ValVal genotype was related to higher levels of loneliness. Our results underline the importance of sex-stratified analyses when examining effects of the BDNF genotype and the necessity of conducting gene studies to intermediate phenotypes of loneliness.",

keywords = "FACTOR VAL66MET POLYMORPHISM, FACTOR VAL(66)MET POLYMORPHISM, REDUCED HIPPOCAMPAL VOLUMES, RECEPTOR GENE, ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS, INDIVIDUAL-DIFFERENCES, MAJOR DEPRESSION, PARENTAL SUPPORT, SOCIAL-ISOLATION, HEALTHY-SUBJECTS",

author = "Maaike Verhagen and \{van Roekel\}, Eeske and Engels, \{Rutger C. M. E.\}",

year = "2014",

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doi = "10.1371/journal.pone.0092768",

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T1 - Involvement of the BDNF Gene in Loneliness in Adolescence

T2 - A Report of Opposite Gene Effects in Boys and Girls

AU - Verhagen, Maaike

AU - van Roekel, Eeske

AU - Engels, Rutger C. M. E.

PY - 2014/3/19

Y1 - 2014/3/19

N2 - Previous research has shown that loneliness has a heritable component and that genes within the serotonin-, dopamine-, and oxytocin systems are related to loneliness in adolescence. In the present study, the relation between the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and loneliness in adolescent boys and girls was examined in a longitudinal study spanning five annual waves (N = 305). Latent growth curve modeling (LGCM) was used to examine the baseline level and the change in loneliness over time. The main finding was that the BDNF gene was not related to loneliness in the total sample. A BDNF by sex interaction was found, in that Met carrying girls had the highest levels of loneliness at baseline, whereas in boys the ValVal genotype was related to higher levels of loneliness. Our results underline the importance of sex-stratified analyses when examining effects of the BDNF genotype and the necessity of conducting gene studies to intermediate phenotypes of loneliness.

AB - Previous research has shown that loneliness has a heritable component and that genes within the serotonin-, dopamine-, and oxytocin systems are related to loneliness in adolescence. In the present study, the relation between the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and loneliness in adolescent boys and girls was examined in a longitudinal study spanning five annual waves (N = 305). Latent growth curve modeling (LGCM) was used to examine the baseline level and the change in loneliness over time. The main finding was that the BDNF gene was not related to loneliness in the total sample. A BDNF by sex interaction was found, in that Met carrying girls had the highest levels of loneliness at baseline, whereas in boys the ValVal genotype was related to higher levels of loneliness. Our results underline the importance of sex-stratified analyses when examining effects of the BDNF genotype and the necessity of conducting gene studies to intermediate phenotypes of loneliness.

KW - FACTOR VAL66MET POLYMORPHISM

KW - FACTOR VAL(66)MET POLYMORPHISM

KW - REDUCED HIPPOCAMPAL VOLUMES

KW - RECEPTOR GENE

KW - ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS

KW - INDIVIDUAL-DIFFERENCES

KW - MAJOR DEPRESSION

KW - PARENTAL SUPPORT

KW - SOCIAL-ISOLATION

KW - HEALTHY-SUBJECTS

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DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0092768

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JO - PLoS ONE

JF - PLoS ONE

IS - 3

M1 - e92768

ER -

Involvement of the BDNF Gene in Loneliness in Adolescence: A Report of Opposite Gene Effects in Boys and Girls

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Keywords

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