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Soo CC, Brandenburg JT, Nebel A, Tollman S, Berkman L, Ramsay M, Choudhury A. Genome-wide association study of population-standardised cognitive performance phenotypes in a rural South African community. Commun Biol 2023; 6:328. [PMID: 36973338 PMCID: PMC10043003 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04636-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive function is an indicator for global physical and mental health, and cognitive impairment has been associated with poorer life outcomes and earlier mortality. A standard cognition test, adapted to a rural-dwelling African community, and the Oxford Cognition Screen-Plus were used to capture cognitive performance as five continuous traits (total cognition score, verbal episodic memory, executive function, language, and visuospatial ability) for 2,246 adults in this population of South Africans. A novel common variant, rs73485231, reached genome-wide significance for association with episodic memory using data for ~14 million markers imputed from the H3Africa genotyping array data. Window-based replication of previously implicated variants and regions of interest support the discovery of African-specific associated variants despite the small population size and low allele frequency. This African genome-wide association study identifies suggestive associations with general cognition and domain-specific cognitive pathways and lays the groundwork for further genomic studies on cognition in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra C Soo
- Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
- Division of Human Genetics, National Health Laboratory Service and School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
| | - Jean-Tristan Brandenburg
- Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Almut Nebel
- Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Kiel University, 24105, Kiel, Germany
| | - Stephen Tollman
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Lisa Berkman
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Michèle Ramsay
- Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Ananyo Choudhury
- Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
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2
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Menta G, Lepinteur A, Clark AE, Ghislandi S, D'Ambrosio C. Maternal genetic risk for depression and child human capital. JOURNAL OF HEALTH ECONOMICS 2023; 87:102718. [PMID: 36565586 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2022.102718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
We here address the causal relationship between the maternal genetic risk for depression and child human capital using UK birth-cohort data. We find that an increase of one standard deviation (SD) in the maternal polygenic risk score for depression reduces their children's cognitive and non-cognitive skill scores by 5 to 7% of a SD throughout adolescence. Our results are robust to a battery of sensitivity tests addressing, among others, concerns about pleiotropy and dynastic effects. Our Gelbach decomposition analysis suggests that the strongest mediator is genetic nurture (through maternal depression itself), with genetic inheritance playing only a marginal role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Menta
- Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER), Luxembourg
| | | | - Andrew E Clark
- University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg; Paris School of Economics - CNRS, France
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3
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Du X, Sun P. Generating distant analogies facilitates relational integration: Intermediary role of relational mindset and cognitive load. Front Psychol 2022; 13:1012081. [PMID: 36176804 PMCID: PMC9514117 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1012081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Relational integration is essential for learning, working, and living, as we must encode enormous volumes of information and extract their relations to construct knowledge about the environment. Recent research hints that generating distant analogies can temporarily facilitate learners’ state-based relational integration. This study aimed to investigate the internal mechanism underlying the facilitation effect and preliminarily confirm its application in education. First, we adopted the classical n-term premise integration task (Experiment 1a) and the Latin Square Task (Experiment 1b) to explore the robustness of the facilitation effect. Then we employed an emerging multidimensional relational reasoning task to further explore the internal mechanism underlying this facilitation effect (Experiment 2). Finally, we verified the practical role of the facilitation effect in learning the interaction concept in statistics (Experiment 3). The results showed that generating distant analogies did facilitate students’ relational integration performance, both in classical cognitive tasks and in a practical learning task, and a relational mindset and cognitive load play an intermediary role in the facilitation, supporting the cognitive load theory. The results suggest that generating distant analogies can be a useful warm-up activity to assist educators in promoting students’ relational integration.
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4
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Abstract
Various forms of relational processing have been linked to cognitive capacity measures, such as working memory and fluid intelligence. However, previous work has not established the extent to which different forms of relational processing reflect common factors, nor whether individual differences in cognitive style also contribute to variations in relational reasoning. The current study took an individual-differences approach to investigate the prerequisites for relational processing. In two studies, college students completed a battery of standardized tests of individual differences related to fluid intelligence and cognitive style, as well as a series of experimental tasks that require relational reasoning. Moderate correlations were obtained between relational processing and measures of cognitive capacity. Questionnaire measures of cognitive style generally did not improve predictions of relational processing beyond the influence of measures of cognitive capacity.
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5
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Beyond Lipid Signaling: Pleiotropic Effects of Diacylglycerol Kinases in Cellular Signaling. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21186861. [PMID: 32962151 PMCID: PMC7554708 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The diacylglycerol kinase family, which can attenuate diacylglycerol signaling and activate phosphatidic acid signaling, regulates various signaling transductions in the mammalian cells. Studies on the regulation of diacylglycerol and phosphatidic acid levels by various enzymes, the identification and characterization of various diacylglycerol and phosphatidic acid-regulated proteins, and the overlap of different diacylglycerol and phosphatidic acid metabolic and signaling processes have revealed the complex and non-redundant roles of diacylglycerol kinases in regulating multiple biochemical and biological networks. In this review article, we summarized recent progress in the complex and non-redundant roles of diacylglycerol kinases, which is expected to aid in restoring dysregulated biochemical and biological networks in various pathological conditions at the bed side.
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6
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Selvaggi P, Pergola G, Gelao B, Di Carlo P, Nettis MA, Amico G, Fazio L, Rampino A, Sambataro F, Blasi G, Bertolino A. Genetic Variation of a DRD2 Co-expression Network is Associated with Changes in Prefrontal Function After D2 Receptors Stimulation. Cereb Cortex 2020; 29:1162-1173. [PMID: 29415163 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhy022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Dopamine D2 receptors (D2Rs) contribute to the inverted U-shaped relationship between dopamine signaling and prefrontal function. Genetic networks from post-mortem human brain revealed 84 partner genes co-expressed with DRD2. Moreover, eight functional single nucleotide polymorphisms combined into a polygenic co-expression index (PCI) predicted co-expression of this DRD2 network and were associated with prefrontal function in humans. Here, we investigated the non-linear association of the PCI with behavioral and Working Memory (WM) related brain response to pharmacological D2Rs stimulation. Fifty healthy volunteers took part in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, functional MRI (fMRI) study with bromocriptine and performed the N-Back task. The PCI by drug interaction was significant on both WM behavioral scores (P = 0.046) and related prefrontal activity (all corrected P < 0.05) using a polynomial PCI model. Non-linear responses under placebo were reversed by bromocriptine administration. fMRI results on placebo were replicated in an independent sample of 50 participants who did not receive drug administration (P = 0.034). These results match earlier evidence in non-human primates and confirm the physiological relevance of this DRD2 co-expression network. Results show that in healthy subjects, different alleles evaluated as an ensemble are associated with non-linear prefrontal responses. Therefore, brain response to a dopaminergic drug may depend on a complex system of allelic patterns associated with DRD2 co-expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierluigi Selvaggi
- Group of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.,Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Giulio Pergola
- Group of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Barbara Gelao
- Group of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Pasquale Di Carlo
- Group of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Maria Antonietta Nettis
- Group of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.,Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Graziella Amico
- Group of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Leonardo Fazio
- Group of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Antonio Rampino
- Group of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.,Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Consorziale Policlinico, Bari, Italy
| | - Fabio Sambataro
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medical Science, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Blasi
- Group of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.,Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Consorziale Policlinico, Bari, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bertolino
- Group of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.,Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Consorziale Policlinico, Bari, Italy
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7
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Bueno D. Genetics and Learning: How the Genes Influence Educational Attainment. Front Psychol 2019; 10:1622. [PMID: 31354597 PMCID: PMC6635910 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The brain is the organ of thought. The word thought is defined as the act of thinking about or considering something: an idea or opinion, or a set of ideas about a particular subject. It implicitly includes the processes of learning. Mental functions, including most if not all aspects of human behavior, such as those related to learning, arise from the activity of the brain. Neural connections that generate and support mental functions are formed throughout life, which enables lifelong learning of new concepts and skills. Both brain formation and function, as well as neural plasticity, are influenced by the activity of a variety of genes and also by epigenetic modifications, which contribute to the regulation of gene expression by adapting it to environmental conditions. In this review, aimed especially at education professionals, I discuss the genetic and epigenetic contributions to mental aspects related to learning processes in terms of heritability. I will argue that, despite most if not all aspects related to learning having a clear genetic background, innate abilities can be enhanced or diminished through educational processes. Thus, the importance of education, in the context of the inheritability of learning processes, will be discussed. The conclusion I draw is that, despite the relatively high genetic heritability shown in most brain processes associated with learning, educational practices are a key contributor to student development, allowing genetically based skills to be enhanced or alternatively diminished. Therefore one of the main goals of education in a changing an uncertain world should be to form adaptable and versatile people who can, and want to, make the most of their capabilities. Thus, knowledge derived from genetics and epigenetics, as well as from neuroscience, should be used to enhance education professionals’ understanding of the biological origins of differences in mental capabilities, thereby empowering them with the possibility to adopt more respectful and flexible educational practices to attain the goal mentioned above.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Bueno
- Biomedical, Evolutionary, and Developmental Genetics Section, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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8
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Merida I, Arranz-Nicolás J, Torres-Ayuso P, Ávila-Flores A. Diacylglycerol Kinase Malfunction in Human Disease and the Search for Specific Inhibitors. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2019; 259:133-162. [PMID: 31227890 DOI: 10.1007/164_2019_221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The diacylglycerol kinases (DGKs) are master regulator kinases that control the switch from diacylglycerol (DAG) to phosphatidic acid (PA), two lipids with important structural and signaling properties. Mammalian DGKs distribute into five subfamilies that regulate local availability of DAG and PA pools in a tissue- and subcellular-restricted manner. Pharmacological manipulation of DGK activity holds great promise, given the critical contribution of specific DGK subtypes to the control of membrane structure, signaling complexes, and cell-cell communication. The latest advances in the DGK field have unveiled the differential contribution of selected isoforms to human disease. Defects in the expression/activity of individual DGK isoforms contribute substantially to cognitive impairment, mental disorders, insulin resistance, and vascular pathologies. Abnormal DGK overexpression, on the other hand, confers the acquisition of malignant traits including invasion, chemotherapy resistance, and inhibition of immune attack on tumors. Translation of these findings into therapeutic approaches will require development of methods to pharmacologically modulate DGK functions. In particular, inhibitors that target the DGKα isoform hold particular promise in the fight against cancer, on their own or in combination with immune-targeting therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Merida
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, National Center of Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Javier Arranz-Nicolás
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, National Center of Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro Torres-Ayuso
- Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Signaling, National Cancer Institute (NCI-NIH), Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Antonia Ávila-Flores
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, National Center of Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
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9
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Moustafa AA, Hassan M, Hewedi DH, Hewedi I, Garami JK, Al Ashwal H, Zaki N, Seo SY, Cutsuridis V, Angulo SL, Natesh JY, Herzallah MM, Frydecka D, Misiak B, Salama M, Mohamed W, El Haj M, Hornberger M. Genetic underpinnings in Alzheimer's disease - a review. Rev Neurosci 2018; 29:21-38. [PMID: 28949931 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2017-0036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2017] [Accepted: 06/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In this review, we discuss the genetic etiologies of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Furthermore, we review genetic links to protein signaling pathways as novel pharmacological targets to treat AD. Moreover, we also discuss the clumps of AD-m ediated genes according to their single nucleotide polymorphism mutations. Rigorous data mining approaches justified the significant role of genes in AD prevalence. Pedigree analysis and twin studies suggest that genetic components are part of the etiology, rather than only being risk factors for AD. The first autosomal dominant mutation in the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene was described in 1991. Later, AD was also associated with mutated early-onset (presenilin 1/2, PSEN1/2 and APP) and late-onset (apolipoprotein E, ApoE) genes. Genome-wide association and linkage analysis studies with identified multiple genomic areas have implications for the treatment of AD. We conclude this review with future directions and clinical implications of genetic research in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed A Moustafa
- School of Social Sciences and Psychology, Western Sydney University, 48 Martin Pl, Sydney, New South Wales 2000, Australia
| | - Mubashir Hassan
- Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Kongju National University, Gongju, Chungcheongnam 32588, Republic of Korea
| | - Doaa H Hewedi
- Psychogeriatric Research Center, Institute of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Iman Hewedi
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt
| | - Julia K Garami
- School of Social Sciences and Psychology, Western Sydney University, 48 Martin Pl, Sydney, New South Wales 2000, Australia
| | - Hany Al Ashwal
- College of Information Technology, Department of Computer Science and Software Eng-(CIT), United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nazar Zaki
- College of Information Technology, Department of Computer Science and Software Eng-(CIT), United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sung-Yum Seo
- Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Kongju National University, Gongju, Chungcheongnam 32588, Republic of Korea
| | - Vassilis Cutsuridis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas, Nikolaou Plastira 100, GR-70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Sergio L Angulo
- Departments of Physiology/Pharmacology, The Robert F. Furchgott Center for Neural and Behavioral Science, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA
| | - Joman Y Natesh
- Center for Molecular and Behavioural Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | - Mohammad M Herzallah
- Center for Molecular and Behavioural Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | - Dorota Frydecka
- Wroclaw Medical University, Department and Clinic of Psychiatry, 50-367 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Błażej Misiak
- Wroclaw Medical University, Department of Genetics, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Mohamed Salama
- School of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Wael Mohamed
- International Islamic University Malaysia, Jalan Gombak, Selangor 53100, Malaysia
| | - Mohamad El Haj
- University of Lille, CNRS, CHU Lille, UMR 9193 - SCALab - Sciences Cognitive Sciences Affectives, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Michael Hornberger
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
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10
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Fazio L, Pergola G, Papalino M, Di Carlo P, Monda A, Gelao B, Amoroso N, Tangaro S, Rampino A, Popolizio T, Bertolino A, Blasi G. Transcriptomic context of DRD1 is associated with prefrontal activity and behavior during working memory. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:5582-5587. [PMID: 29735686 PMCID: PMC6003490 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1717135115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) signaling shapes prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity during working memory (WM). Previous reports found higher WM performance associated with alleles linked to greater expression of the gene coding for D1Rs (DRD1). However, there is no evidence on the relationship between genetic modulation of DRD1 expression in PFC and patterns of prefrontal activity during WM. Furthermore, previous studies have not considered that D1Rs are part of a coregulated molecular environment, which may contribute to D1R-related prefrontal WM processing. Thus, we hypothesized a reciprocal link between a coregulated (i.e., coexpressed) molecular network including DRD1 and PFC activity. To explore this relationship, we used three independent postmortem prefrontal mRNA datasets (total n = 404) to characterize a coexpression network including DRD1 Then, we indexed network coexpression using a measure (polygenic coexpression index-DRD1-PCI) combining the effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on coexpression. Finally, we associated the DRD1-PCI with WM performance and related brain activity in independent samples of healthy participants (total n = 371). We identified and replicated a coexpression network including DRD1, whose coexpression was correlated with DRD1-PCI. We also found that DRD1-PCI was associated with lower PFC activity and higher WM performance. Behavioral and imaging results were replicated in independent samples. These findings suggest that genetically predicted expression of DRD1 and of its coexpression partners stratifies healthy individuals in terms of WM performance and related prefrontal activity. They also highlight genes and SNPs potentially relevant to pharmacological trials aimed to test cognitive enhancers modulating DRD1 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Fazio
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
- Sezione di Neuroradiologia, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza," 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
- Contributed Equally
| | - Giulio Pergola
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
- Contributed Equally
| | - Marco Papalino
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Pasquale Di Carlo
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Anna Monda
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Barbara Gelao
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Nicola Amoroso
- Dipartimento Interateneo di Fisica "M. Merlin," Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, 70125 Bari, Italy
- Sezione di Bari, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Sabina Tangaro
- Sezione di Bari, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Antonio Rampino
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
- Institute of Psychiatry, Bari University Hospital, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Teresa Popolizio
- Sezione di Neuroradiologia, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza," 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bertolino
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
- Institute of Psychiatry, Bari University Hospital, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Blasi
- Institute of Psychiatry, Bari University Hospital, 70124 Bari, Italy
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy;
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Dozmorov MG, Bilbo SD, Kollins SH, Zucker N, Do EK, Schechter JC, Zhang J(J, Murphy SK, Hoyo C, Fuemmeler BF. Associations between maternal cytokine levels during gestation and measures of child cognitive abilities and executive functioning. Brain Behav Immun 2018; 70:390-397. [PMID: 29588230 PMCID: PMC6471612 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2018.03.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Revised: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Preclinical studies demonstrate that environmentally-induced alterations in inflammatory cytokines generated by the maternal and fetal immune system can significantly impact fetal brain development. Yet, the relationship between maternal cytokines during gestation and later cognitive ability and executive function remains understudied. Children (n = 246) were born of mothers enrolled in the Newborn Epigenetic Study - a prospective pre-birth cohort in the Southeastern US. We characterized seven cytokines [IL-1β, IL-4,IL-6, IL-12p70, IL-17A, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), and interferon-γ (IFNγ)] and one chemokine (IL-8) from maternal plasma collected during pregnancy. We assessed children's cognitive abilities and executive functioning at a mean age of 4.5 (SD = 1.1) years. Children's DAS-II and NIH toolbox scores were regressed on cytokines and the chemokine, controlling for maternal age, race, education, body mass index, IQ, parity, smoking status, delivery type, gestational weeks, and child birth weight and sex. Higher IL-12p70 (βIL-12p70 = 4.26, p = 0.023) and IL-17A (βIL-17A = 3.70, p = 0.042) levels were related to higher DAS-II GCA score, whereas higher IL-1β (βIL-1B = -6.07, p = 0.003) was related to lower GCA score. Higher IL-12p70 was related to higher performance on NIH toolbox measures of executive functions related to inhibitory control and attention (βIL-12p70 = 5.20, p = 0.046) and cognitive flexibility (βIL-12p70 = 5.10, p = 0.047). Results suggest that dysregulation in gestational immune activity are associated with child cognitive ability and executive functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail G. Dozmorov
- Department of Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Staci D. Bilbo
- Lurie Center for Autism, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Scott H. Kollins
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Nancy Zucker
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Elizabeth K. Do
- Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Julia C. Schechter
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Junfeng (Jim) Zhang
- The Nicholas School of the Environment and Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Susan K. Murphy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Cathrine Hoyo
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Bernard F. Fuemmeler
- Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA,Corresponding author at: Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Health Behavior and Policy, P.O. Box 980149, 830 E Main St., Richmond, VA 23219, USA., (B.F. Fuemmeler)
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12
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Andrews G, Bohadana GR. Does solving distant analogies facilitate relational integration? JOURNAL OF COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/20445911.2017.1414223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Glenda Andrews
- School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Gal Rachel Bohadana
- School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
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Andrews G, Ogden JE, Halford GS. Resolving Conflicts Between Syntax and Plausibility in Sentence Comprehension. Adv Cogn Psychol 2017; 13:11-27. [PMID: 28458748 PMCID: PMC5404470 DOI: 10.5709/acp-0203-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2016] [Accepted: 11/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Comprehension of plausible and implausible object- and subject-relative clause
sentences with and without prepositional phrases was examined. Undergraduates
read each sentence then evaluated a statement as consistent or inconsistent with
the sentence. Higher acceptance of consistent than inconsistent statements
indicated reliance on syntactic analysis. Higher acceptance of
plausible than implausible statements reflected reliance on semantic
plausibility. There was greater reliance on semantic plausibility
and lesser reliance on syntactic analysis for more complex object-relatives and
sentences with prepositional phrases than for less complex subject-relatives and
sentences without prepositional phrases. Comprehension accuracy and confidence
were lower when syntactic analysis and semantic plausibility yielded conflicting
interpretations. The conflict effect on comprehension was significant for
complex sentences but not for less complex sentences. Working memory capacity
predicted resolution of the syntax-plausibility conflict in
more and less complex items only when sentences and statements were presented
sequentially. Fluid intelligence predicted resolution of the conflict in more
and less complex items under sequential and simultaneous presentation.
Domain-general processes appear to be involved in resolving syntax-plausibility
conflicts in sentence comprehension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glenda Andrews
- Menzies Institute of Health Queensland, Griffith University, Gold
Coast, Australia
| | - Jessica E. Ogden
- School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Gold Coast,
Australia
| | - Graeme S. Halford
- School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt,
Australia
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Makris N, Tachmatzidis D, Demetriou A, Spanoudis G. Mapping the evolving core of intelligence: Changing relations between executive control, reasoning, language, and awareness. INTELLIGENCE 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intell.2017.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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Mehta CM, Gruen JR, Zhang H. A method for integrating neuroimaging into genetic models of learning performance. Genet Epidemiol 2017; 41:4-17. [PMID: 27859682 PMCID: PMC5154929 DOI: 10.1002/gepi.22025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2016] [Revised: 09/27/2016] [Accepted: 09/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Specific learning disorders (SLD) are an archetypal example of how clinical neuropsychological (NP) traits can differ from underlying genetic and neurobiological risk factors. Disparate environmental influences and pathologies impact learning performance assessed through cognitive examinations and clinical evaluations, the primary diagnostic tools for SLD. We propose a neurobiological risk for SLD with neuroimaging biomarkers, which is integrated into a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of learning performance in a cohort of 479 European individuals between 8 and 21 years of age. We first identified six regions of interest (ROIs) in temporal and anterior cingulate regions where the group diagnosed with learning disability has the least overall variation, relative to the other group, in thickness, area, and volume measurements. Although we used the three imaging measures, the thickness was the leading contributor. Hence, we calculated the Euclidean distances between any two individuals based on their thickness measures in the six ROIs. Then, we defined the relative similarity of one individual according to the averaged ranking of pairwise distances from the individuals to those in the SLD group. The inverse of this relative similarity is called the neurobiological risk for the individual. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the AGBL1 gene on chromosome 15 had a significant association with learning performance at a genome-wide level. This finding was supported in an independent cohort of 2,327 individuals of the same demographic profile. Our statistical approach for integrating genetic and neuroimaging biomarkers can be extended into studying the biological basis of other NP traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chintan M. Mehta
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale University, 300 George Street, Suite 523, New Haven, Connecticut, 06511 (USA)
| | - Jeffrey R. Gruen
- Department of Pediatrics and Genetics, Yale University, 464 Congress Avenue, Suite 208, New Haven, Connecticut, 06511 (USA)
| | - Heping Zhang
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale University, 300 George Street, Suite 523, New Haven, Connecticut, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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Heritability of Children's Dietary Intakes: A Population-Based Twin Study in China. Twin Res Hum Genet 2016; 19:472-84. [DOI: 10.1017/thg.2016.61] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Background: Despite evidence for some genetic control of dietary intake in adults, there is little evidence of how genetic factors influence children's dietary patterns. Objective: To estimate heritability of dietary intake in twin children from China and test if genetic effects on dietary intakes vary by the children's socio-economic status (SES). Methods: A sample of 622 twins (162 monozygotic and 149 dizygotic pairs; 298 boys and 324 girls aged 7–15 years) was recruited in South China. Dietary intakes were assessed using a validated 145-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Pooled and sex-specific dietary patterns were identified using factor analysis. Heritability was estimated using structural equation models. Results: Heritable components differed by gender and for nutrients and food groups; and estimated heritability of dietary patterns was generally greater in girls than boys. In boys, estimated heritabilities ranged from 18.8% (zinc) to 58.4% (fat) for nutrients; and for food group, 1.1% (Western fast foods) to 65.8% (soft drinks). In girls, these estimates ranged from 5.1% (total energy) to 38.7% (percentage of energy from fat) for nutrients, and 12.6% (eggs) to 94.6% (Western fast foods) for food groups. Factor analysis identified five food patterns: vegetables and fruits, fried and fast foods, beverages, snacks and meats. Maternal education and family income were positively associated with higher heritabilities for intake of meat, fried, and fast food. Conclusions: Genetic influence on dietary intakes differed by gender, nutrients, food groups, and dietary patterns among Chinese twins. Parental SES characteristics modified the estimated genetic influence.
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Effects of Prenatal Nicotine Exposure on Infant Language Development: A Cohort Follow Up Study. Matern Child Health J 2016; 21:734-744. [DOI: 10.1007/s10995-016-2158-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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