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This research aims to explore the genetic and neuroanatomical links associated with bipolar disorder in high-risk adolescents.

January 18, 2026BMJ Mental HealthOpen Access

Genetic and neuroanatomical correlates of bipolar disorder in high-risk youth

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Cross-sectional analysis identifies genetic and neuroanatomical indicators of bipolar disorder in youth, suggesting early intervention opportunities.

This research aims to explore the genetic and neuroanatomical links associated with bipolar disorder in high-risk adolescents.
Cross-sectional analysis of the Recognition and Early Intervention of Prodromal Bipolar Disorders cohort
Included 392 participants aged 12–25 years, stratified into five groups
Assessed cortical thickness using high-resolution T1-weighted images and FreeSurfer
Analyzed gene expression patterns from the Allen Human Brain Atlas with partial least squares regression
Conducted gene enrichment analyses to connect cortical changes with transcriptomic profiles.
Identified significant differences in cortical thickness across the bipolar disorder risk spectrum
Patients with bipolar disorder showed pronounced cortical thinning relative to healthy controls
Subthreshold symptoms in high-risk individuals displayed intermediate cortical features
Cortical thinning correlated with downregulation of excitatory synaptic pathways
High-risk individuals exhibited upregulation of both excitatory and inhibitory neuronal markers.

Wang et al. (2026) studied this question.

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Cross-sectional analysis identifies genetic and neuroanatomical indicators of bipolar disorder in youth, suggesting early intervention opportunities.