Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 17, 2025
05:44
Author Spotlight: Collecting the Brain and Serum from the Same Mice Fetus to Study Brain Tumor Development
Published on: May 17, 2024
774
Association Between Genetic Risks for Obesity and Working Memory in Children
Nagahide Takahashi1,2,3, Tomoko Nishimura2,3, Taeko Harada2,3
1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
Frontiers in Neuroscience
|October 11, 2021
Summary
Genetic predisposition to adult obesity is linked to lower working memory in children. This association is direct and not mediated by childhood body mass index (BMI).
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Obesity is highly heritable and linked to cognitive deficits, particularly working memory.
- The relationship between genetic obesity risk and childhood working memory, and potential mediation by body mass index (BMI), remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between polygenic risk score (PRS) for adult obesity and working memory in 8-year-old children.
- To determine if childhood BMI mediates the relationship between adult obesity PRS and working memory.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Hamamatsu Birth Cohort for Mothers and Children study.
- Calculated adulthood-BMI-PRS using genome-wide association study data.
- Assessed working memory index (WMI) via WISC-IV and childhood BMI at age 8.
- Performed gene-set enrichment and mediation analyses.
Main Results:
- Adulthood-BMI-PRS was significantly associated with lower childhood WMI (p=0.010).
- Gene-set enrichment identified pathways related to neurotrophin signaling, GTPase activity, and epigenetic regulation.
- Mediation analysis revealed no significant mediating effect of childhood BMI on the association between adulthood-BMI-PRS and working memory.
Conclusions:
- Genetic predisposition to adult obesity is directly associated with working memory deficits in children.
- Childhood BMI does not mediate this genetic effect on cognitive function.
More Related Videos
14:56Sample Preparation to Bioinformatics Analysis of DNA Methylation: Association Strategy for Obesity and Related Trait Studies
Published on: May 6, 2022
4.7K
09:38Generalized Psychophysiological Interaction PPI Analysis of Memory Related Connectivity in Individuals at Genetic Risk for Alzheimer's Disease
Published on: November 14, 2017
15.2K
Related Concept Videos
01:28Human Genetics
823
Human genetics provides a profound framework for understanding the interplay between genetic predispositions and human psychology. At the heart of this discipline lies the study of how genes influence physical traits, behaviors, and susceptibility to diseases. Each person carries a unique genetic code that subtly or significantly shapes their psychological and behavioral landscape.
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
823
01:30Information Processing Approach
214
The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is...
214
01:30Biological Influences on Intelligence
271
Intelligence is often thought to be linked to brain size, but the relationship is more complex than that. While brain size does correlate modestly with some abilities, like verbal skills, the connection is weaker for others, such as spatial reasoning. Other factors, like brain structure, also play crucial roles. For instance, despite Einstein's smaller-than-average brain, his parietal cortex, which is involved in spatial reasoning, was 15% wider, suggesting that neural density might matter...
271
01:24Working Memory
476
Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this...
476
01:24Obesity
718
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in...
718
01:30Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
429
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
429