On this page we show you all research publications of the Eat2beNICE consortium. These publications report on the research output of the project. For each publication we provide a summary or the publication’s abstract. If you want to read the full article, you can click on the link below the summary or abstract. For PDFs of our own press releases about progress within the Eat2beNICE project please go to DOWNLOADS. To receive our project newsletter please subscribe here!
On: 30 May 2021
Identification of Cholecystokinin by Genome-Wide Profiling as Potential Mediator of Serotonin-Dependent Behavioral Effects of Maternal Separation in the Amygdala
Converging evidence suggests a role of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2), the rate-limiting enzyme of 5-HT synthesis in the brain, in modulating long-term, neurobiological effects of early-life adversity. Here, we aimed at further elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying this interaction, and its consequences for socio-emotional behaviors, with a focus on anxiety and social interaction.
On: 30 May 2021
Early-life stress impairs developmental programming in Cadherin 13 (CDH13)-deficient mice
Cadherin-13 (CDH13), a member of the calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecule family, has been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity (ADHD) disorders, but also to depression. In the adult brain, CDH13 expression is restricted e.g. to the presynaptic compartment of inhibitory GABAergic synapses in the hippocampus and Cdh13 knockout mice show an increased inhibitory drive onto hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons, leading to a shift in excitatory/inhibitory balance. CDH13 is also moderating migration of serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus, establishing projections preferentially to the thalamus and cerebellum during brain development. Furthermore, CDH13 is upregulated by chronic stress as well as in depression, suggesting a role in early-life adaptation to stressful experience. Here, we therefore investigated the interaction between Cdh13 variation and neonatal maternal separation (MS) in mice
On: 30 May 2021
M114 – EXPLORING ALLELE SPECIFIC METHYLATION (ASM) IN DRUG DEPENDENCE SUSCEPTIBILITY
Drug addiction is a neuropsychiatric disorder where long-lasting changes in gene expression within particular regions of the brain play an important role. Work over the past decade has demonstrated a crucial role for epigenetic mechanisms in driving stable changes in gene expression in several tissues, including the brain. Allele-specific methylation (ASM) is a common epigenetic mechanism consisting on SNPs that correlate with differential levels of methylation at CpG sites. The aim of our study is to assess the possible contribution of ASM in different brain regions to drug dependence susceptibility.
On: 30 May 2021
Genome-wide association meta-analysis of cocaine dependence: Shared genetics with comorbid conditions
Cocaine dependence is a complex psychiatric disorder that is highly comorbid with other psychiatric traits. Twin and adoption studies suggest that genetic variants contribute substantially to cocaine dependence susceptibility, which has an estimated heritability of 65–79%. Here we performed a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies of cocaine dependence using four datasets from the dbGaP repository (2085 cases and 4293 controls, all of them selected by their European ancestry).
On: 30 May 2021
How to (tr)eat?: A double-blind randomized controlled trial investigating broad-spectrum micronutrients in highly impulsive children and adolescents
Despite the popularity with consumers of using nutritional methods for the treatment of psychiatric illnesses, high quality evidence is missing. First studies assessing micronutrients for the treatment of impulsivity/ADHD have shown promising benefits. However, in the child/adolescent area, they have been mainly open- label, retrospective database analyses, case reports, or patient preference studies. Cross-disorder approaches and studies investigating long-term effects are missing. Thus, further research is required, in particular controlled studies with adolescents in larger samples.
On: 30 May 2021
Neuroendocrinological mechanisms underlying impulsive and compulsive behaviors in obesity: a narrative review of fMRI studies
Impulsivity and compulsivity are multidimensional constructs that are increasingly considered determinants of obesity. Studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have provided insight on how differences in brain response during tasks exploring facets of impulsivity and compulsivity relate to the ingestive behaviors that support the etiology and maintenance of obesity.
On: 30 May 2021
What Difference Does it Make? Risk-Taking Behavior in Obesity after a Loss is Associated with Decreased Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex Activity
Altered activity in decision-making neural circuitry may underlie the maladaptive food choices found in obesity. Here, we aimed to identify the brain regions purportedly underpinning risk-taking behavior in individuals with obesity. Twenty-three adult women with obesity and twenty-three healthy weight controls completed the Risky Gains Task during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
On: 28 May 2021
A multimodal MRI study of the neural mechanisms of emotion regulation impairment in women with obesity
Maladaptive emotion regulation contributes to overeating and impedes weight loss. Our study aimed to compare the voluntary downregulation of negative emotions by means of cognitive reappraisal in adult women with obesity (OB) and female healthy controls (HC) using a data-driven, multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approach.
On: 28 May 2021
Association between Transcription Factor AP-2B genotype, obesity, insulin resistance and dietary intake in a longitudinal birth cohort study
The development of obesity has a large genetic component, and the gene encoding the transcription factor 2 beta (TFAP2B) has been identified as one of the responsible factors. We investigated the effect of TFAP2B intron 2 variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) genotype on obesity, insulin resistance and dietary intake from 15 to 33 years of age.
On: 28 May 2021
Low cholesterol levels in children predict impulsivity in young adulthood
Severe behavioural issues such as impulsive action and suicide have since long been associated with low levels of cholesterol. While it is known that cholesterol plays a role in neural development and hence low levels of serum lipids could have long-term effects on behaviour, no longitudinal studies showed the association of serum lipids levels with impulsivity. We aimed to examine the prognostic properties of serum lipid levels during childhood and adolescence on measures of impulsivity during early adulthood in a representative birth cohort sample.