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: 1 February 2021
REVERSE phenotyping—Can the phenotype following constitutive Tph2 gene inactivation in mice be transferred to children and adolescents with and without adhd?
Experimental models of neuropsychiatric disorders, for example, ADHD, are used to mimic specific phenotypic traits of a complex human disorder. However, it remains unresolved to what extent the animal phenotype reflects the specific human trait. The null mutant mouse of the serotonin-synthesizing tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (Tph2-/-) gene has been proposed as experimental model for ADHD with high face validity for impulsive, aggressive, and anxious behaviors. To validate this ADHD-like model, we examined the Tph2-/- phenotype in humans when considering allelic variation of TPH2 function (“reverse phenotyping”).
On: 11 January 2021
Generation of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines carrying a heterozygous (UKWMPi002-A-1) and null mutant knockout (UKWMPi002-A-2) of Cadherin 13 associated with neurodevelopmental disorders using CRISPR/Cas9
Fibroblasts isolated from a skin biopsy of a healthy 46-year-old female were infected with Sendai virus containing the Yamanaka factors to produce transgene-free human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). CRISPR/Cas9 was used to generate isogenic cell lines with a gene dose-dependent deficiency of CDH13, a risk gene associated with neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders.
On: 27 November 2020
Genetic overlap and causality between substance use disorder and attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder
Substance use disorder (SUD) often co-occur at high prevalence with other psychiatric conditions. Among them, attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is present in almost one out of every four subjects with SUD and is associated with higher severity, more frequent polysubstance dependence and increased risk for other mental health problems in SUD patients. Despite studies suggesting a genetic basis in the co-occurrence of these two conditions, the genetic factors involved in the joint development of both disorders and the mechanisms mediating these causal relationships are still unknown.
On: 20 November 2020
Transcriptome profiling in adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with an estimated heritability of around 70%. Although the largest genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis on ADHD identified independent loci conferring risk to the disorder, the molecular mechanisms underlying the genetic basis of the disorder remain to be elucidated.
On: 30 October 2020
Caffeine consumption may reduce the risk of cognitive decline
Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages worldwide and the main source of caffeine by people living in Mediterranean countries. Besides caffeine, coffee beans contain several substances that have potential beneficial effects on health, including vitamins, minerals, polyphenols (antioxidants), and phytochemicals. In fact, in recent years the study of the effect of coffee consumption on cardiometabolic health, cancer, and mortality has been of great interest. In the last decades, the net number of individuals with neurological alterations characterized by a cognitive decline (such as Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia), has increased exponentially what has made it become a major public health issue. It is recognized that some dietary factors have a potential beneficial effect on preventing dementia onset and progression. Because of this, we aimed to explore the possible association between coffee consumption and cognitive functioning.
On: 7 October 2020
ADHD symptoms correlate with eating unhealthy food types
Everyone has certain preferences and habits regarding the foods they generally eat and drink. This is called dietary habit. It is an important and modifiable lifestyle factor that might affect the development and functioning of our brain. Previous studies have reported that in children and adolescents, ADHD symptoms were associated with high consumption of refined sugar and saturated fat and low consumption of fruits and vegetables. However, it is unclear how ADHD symptoms associate with dietary habits in adults. Therefore, we aimed to identify and quantify the associations between ADHD symptom dimensions and different dietary habits in adults, stratified by age, gender and socioeconomic status. We also aimed to investigate whether genetic and environmental factors could explain the potential associations between adult ADHD symptoms and different dietary habits.
On: 2 October 2020
Maternal fibre and gluten intake during pregnancy and risk of childhood celiac disease: the MoBa study
Maternal diet can influence the developing immune system of the offspring. We hypothesized that maternal fibre and gluten intake during pregnancy were associated with the risk of celiac disease in the child.
On: 14 September 2020
Obesity, reward and genetics
It is thought that how sensitive an individual is to rewards plays a role in obesity. However, research findings about the role of reward sensitivity in obesity have so far been inconsistent. One explanation is that reward sensitivity is a complex construct that includes several different aspects of processing and responding to rewards. In this study we investigated different aspects of reward sensitivity for their association with obesity. We also looked at the role of a particular gene called TFAP2B. A particular variant in this gene has previously been linked to obesity.
On: 12 August 2020
Shared genetic background between children and adults with ADHD
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by age-inappropriate symptoms of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity that persist into adulthood in the majority of the diagnosed children. Despite several risk factors during childhood predicting the persistence of ADHD symptoms into adulthood, the genetic architecture underlying the trajectory of ADHD over time is still unclear.
On: 1 July 2020
Genetics of stress-induced aggression in mice
The contribution of gene-environment interactions that lead to excessive aggression is poorly understood. Environmental stressors and mutations of the gene encoding tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (TPH2) are known to influence aggression. For example, TPH2 null mutant mice (Tph2−/−) are naturally highly aggressive, while heterozygous mice (Tph2+/−) lack a behavioral phenotype and are considered endophenotypically normal. Here we sought to discover whether an environmental stressor would affect the phenotype of the genetically ‘susceptible’ heterozygous mice (Tph2+/−).