Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2025
14:56
Sample Preparation to Bioinformatics Analysis of DNA Methylation: Association Strategy for Obesity and Related Trait Studies
Published on: May 6, 2022
4.5K
Obesity: exploring its connection to brain function through genetic and genomic perspectives.
Sadia Saeed1,2,3, Amélie Bonnefond1,2,3, Philippe Froguel4,5,6
1INSERM UMR 1283, CNRS UMR 8199, European Genomic Institute for Diabetes (EGID), Lille, France.
Molecular Psychiatry
|September 5, 2024
Summary
Obesity is increasingly recognized as a neurological condition, not just metabolic. Genetic factors significantly influence obesity, impacting brain function and mental health, necessitating new therapeutic strategies.
Area of Science:
- Neurobiology
- Genetics
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Obesity is a global health issue, traditionally viewed as a metabolic disorder.
- Emerging evidence highlights the role of genetic factors in obesity, linked to neurodevelopmental and mental abnormalities.
- Over 30 years of research identified numerous genes associated with monogenic and polygenic obesity, many expressed in the brain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the genetic determinants linking obesity with neurodevelopmental and mental dysfunctions.
- To examine recent genetic findings and their correlation with clinical and behavioral obesity phenotypes.
- To discuss therapeutic strategies targeting genetic mechanisms for improved outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Review of genetic research on obesity.
- Correlation of genetic findings with clinical and behavioral phenotypes.
- Analysis of neurodevelopmental and cognitive assessments in obesity.
Main Results:
- Genetic factors play a crucial role in obesity, influencing brain regions related to addiction and reward.
- A continuum exists between syndromic and non-syndromic monogenic obesity with neurodevelopmental implications.
- Targeted genetic therapies show promise for improved clinical and cognitive benefits.
Conclusions:
- Obesity has strong genetic underpinnings, classifying it as a neurological disorder.
- Obesity's link to neurodevelopmental and mental conditions is significant.
- Genetics, genomics, and neurobiology offer a basis for personalized obesity treatments.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Human Genetics
549
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...
549
01:24Obesity
416
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...
416
01:30Introduction to Biological Bases of Psychology
3.2K
Biopsychology serves as a vital bridge connecting the intricate domains of biology and psychology, shedding light on how biological systems influence psychological phenomena. This field scrutinizes the biological substrates of behavior and mental processes, emphasizing the nervous system along with the roles of neurotransmitters, hormones, and genetics. It also incorporates evolutionary perspectives to explain the adaptive nature of mental functions.
The nervous system, the cornerstone of...
The nervous system, the cornerstone of...
3.2K
01:30Bulimia Nervosa
59
Bulimia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by a cyclical pattern of binge-and-purge eating pattern. It generally involves an episode of binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, excessive exercise, laxative use, or fasting, to prevent weight gain. Despite often maintaining a normal weight, individuals with bulimia are intensely preoccupied with their body image and harbor an overwhelming fear of gaining weight. This can contribute to the...
59
01:23Behavioral Genetics and Its Designs
345
Behavior genetics explores how genetic inheritance influences human behavior. It focuses on how genes, passed from parents to offspring, contribute to the development of behavioral traits and tendencies. This branch of genetics seeks to understand the complex interplay between inherited genetic factors and environmental influences in shaping our behaviors.
The primary methodologies used in behavior genetics include family studies, twin studies, and adoption studies, each providing unique...
The primary methodologies used in behavior genetics include family studies, twin studies, and adoption studies, each providing unique...
345
01:30Biological Influences on Intelligence
83
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...
83