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: 17 August 2022
Association of Impulsivity With Food, Nutrients, and Fitness in a Longitudinal Birth Cohort Study
Impulsivity is a psychiatric vulnerability factor strongly associated with substance abuse but also with unhealthy diet. Whether these associations extend to specific nutrients is largely unknown. Therefore, we investigated the longitudinal association between diet, cardiorespiratory fitness, and 2 impulsivity dimensions in a representative sample of south Estonian adolescents and young adults. Impulsivity and dietary intake were measured 3 times in 2 birth cohorts at regular intervals in individuals aged 15 to 33 years.
On: 10 August 2022
Behavioural and functional evidence revealing the role of RBFOX1 variation in multiple psychiatric disorders and traits
Common variation in the gene encoding the neuron-specific RNA splicing factor RNA Binding Fox-1 Homolog 1 (RBFOX1) has been identified as a risk factor for several psychiatric conditions, and rare genetic variants have been found causal for autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
On: 10 August 2022
Impulsive personality traits predict weight loss in individuals with type 2 diabetes after 3 years of lifestyle interventions
What was the goal of your research or experiment?
We investigated the influence of impulsive personality traits on the effectivity of a 3-year weight-loss program with a Mediterranean diet. We conducted this intervention trial with elderly individuals with type 2 diabetes. We hypothesized that people who are more impulsive will have more trouble to control their weight and blood glucose levels over the duration of the diet intervention.
On: 8 August 2022
Impulsivity is longitudinally associated with healthy and unhealthy dietary patterns in individuals with overweight or obesity and metabolic syndrome within the framework of the PREDIMED-Plus trial
Few studies have analyzed the associations between impulsivity and dietary patterns. Some of them have shown a cross-sectional inverse relationship between impulsivity and healthy diet scores, whereas others reported a positive association with unhealthy dietary assessments. We aimed to examine longitudinal associations of impulsivity trait with adherence to healthy and unhealthy dietary patterns in older participants at high risk of cardiovascular disease over 3 years of follow-up.
On: 1 August 2022
ADHD co-morbidities: A review of implication of gene × environment effects with dopamine-related genes
ADHD is a major burden in adulthood, where co-morbid conditions such as depression, substance use disorder and obesity often dominate the clinical picture. ADHD has substantial shared heritability with other mental disorders, contributing to comorbidity. However, environmental risk factors exist but their interaction with genetic makeup, especially in relation to comorbid disorders, remains elusive. This review for the first time summarizes present knowledge on gene x environment (GxE) interactions regarding the dopamine system.
On: 1 August 2022
The relationship between dairy consumption and cognitive health in elderly individuals
What was the goal of your research or experiment?
Good cognitive health provides us with the ability to clearly think, learn and remember. These abilities are required to adequately perform daily activities. For elderly individuals, they are a major factor to ensure good quality of life and preserve independence. As the population ages, the increasing global prevalence of cognitive impairment, including dementia, is a growing public health concern. Faster rates of cognitive decline are likely to result in earlier onset of cognitive impairment and dementia. To date, there are still no effective treatments available to cure cognitive disorders or slow the rate of cognitive decline. Therefore, prevention strategies targeting modifiable risk factors, such as dietary intake and eating habits, are a promising approach.
On: 30 June 2022
Differential expression of miR-1249-3p and miR-34b-5p between vulnerable and resilient phenotypes of cocaine addiction
Cocaine addiction is a complex brain disorder involving long-term alterations that lead to loss of control over drug seeking. The transition from recreational use to pathological consumption is different in each individual, depending on the interaction between environmental and genetic factors. Epigenetic mechanisms are ideal candidates to study psychiatric disorders triggered by these interactions, maintaining persistent malfunctions in specific brain regions.
On: 2 May 2022
Deficiency of the ywhaz gene, involved in neurodevelopmental disorders, alters brain activity and behaviour in zebrafish
Genetic variants in YWHAZ contribute to psychiatric disorders such as autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia, and have been related to an impaired neurodevelopment in humans and mice. Here, we have used zebrafish to investigate the mechanisms by which YWHAZ contributes to neurodevelopmental disorders.
On: 28 April 2022
The role of neurotrophin genes in gambling disorder
What was the goal of your research or experiment?
Gambling Disorder is caused by a complex interplay of biological, psychological and social factors. Earlier research has identified a possible role of neurotrophic factors in addiction-related disorders. Therefore, these factors could be a promising biomarker for Gambling Disorder. Neurotrophic factors are small proteins that play an important role in the growth, survival and development of brain cells. The main goal of this study was to explore the association between neurotrophic genes and Gambling Disorder. We hypothesized that certain variations in neurotrophin genes could constitute potential biological risk factors for this disorder
On: 29 March 2022
miRNA signatures associated with vulnerability to food addiction in mice and humans
Food addiction is characterized by a loss of behavioral control over food intake and is associated with obesity and other eating disorders. The mechanisms underlying this behavioral disorder are largely unknown. We aimed to investigate the changes in miRNA expression promoted by food addiction in animals and humans and their involvement in the mechanisms underlying the behavioral hallmarks of this disorder.