RSFAS Seminar | A/Prof Nicola Armstrong

Speaker: A/Prof Nicola Armstrong

Institution: Murdoch University

Title: Genome-Wide Association Studies and beyond

Abstract: White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) can be classified as deep (DWMH) and periventricular (PV) WMH dependent upon their anatomical location in relation to the lateral ventricle and subcortical space.  This categorisation is thought to be reflected by etiological and clinical pathophysiological differences between DWMH and PVWMH.  WMHs are associated with cognitive functional impairments and are strongly correlated with neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders including Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia. Heritability studies indicate significant (non-identical) heritability coefficients for DWMH and PVWMH. We recently carried out a GWAS in 24,571 participants from CHARGE, ENIGMA, and UK biobank (UKBB) for DWMH and PVWMH. Here I will give an overview of our (continuing) journey to understand the genetic underpinnings of these phenotypes.