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Genome-wide DNA methylation patterns associated with sleep and mental health in children: a population-based study

Maria Elisabeth Koopman-Verhoeff1,2,3, Rosa H Mulder1,2,4, Jared M Saletin3

  • 1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines
|May 4, 2020
PubMed

Insights

DNA methylation (DNAm) patterns are linked to sleep duration in children. One specific DNAm region on chromosome 17, including the MAPT gene, was associated with sleep duration, but not mental health outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Epigenetics
  • Sleep Science
  • Pediatric Health

Background:

  • DNA methylation (DNAm) plays a role in sleep biology.
  • The relationship between genome-wide DNAm patterns, sleep outcomes, and mental health in children is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the associations between DNA methylation and sleep outcomes in a pediatric population.
  • To explore potential overlaps between DNA methylation, sleep, and mental health.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study of 465 10-year-old children.
  • Genome-wide DNA methylation measured using Illumina 450K array.
  • Sleep assessed via self-report and actigraphy; mental health via maternal questionnaires.
  • Weighted gene co-expression network analysis to identify DNAm modules associated with sleep and mental health.

Main Results:

  • Identified 64 DNA methylation modules.
  • One module associated with sleep duration, located on chromosome 17 and including the MAPT gene.
  • This DNAm region is genetically controlled and shows blood-brain concordance.
  • No overlap found between DNA methylation modules associated with sleep and those associated with mental health.

Conclusions:

  • A specific DNA methylation region is associated with sleep duration in children.
  • This region includes genes previously implicated in sleep duration and GWAS studies.
  • Further research is needed to understand the functional role and longitudinal impact of this DNA methylation region on sleep.
Abstract

Keywords:
DNA methylationaccelerometerepigeneticsepigenomepsychopathologysleep

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