scholarly journals Change by challenge: A common genetic basis behind childhood cognitive development and cognitive training

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Sauce ◽  
John Wiedenhoeft ◽  
Nicholas Judd ◽  
Torkel Klingberg
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Development ◽  
Brain Plasticity ◽  
Training Sample ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Central Piece ◽  
Gene Environment ◽  
Related Development ◽  
Explained Variation ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Cognitive Challenges

AbstractThe interplay of genetic and environmental factors behind cognitive development has preoccupied multiple fields of science and sparked heated debates over the decades. Here we tested the hypothesis that developmental genes rely heavily on cognitive challenges—as opposed to natural maturation. Starting with a polygenic score (cogPGS) that previously explained variation in cognitive performance in adults, we estimated its effect in 344 children and adolescents (mean age of 12 years old, ranging from 6 to 25) who showed changes in working memory (WM) in two distinct samples: (1) a developmental sample showing significant WM gains after 2 years of typical, age-related development, and (2) a training sample showing significant, experimentally-induced WM gains after 25 days of an intense WM training. We found that the same genetic factor, cogPGS, significantly explained the amount of WM gain in both samples. And there was no interaction of cogPGS with sample, suggesting that those genetic factors are neutral to whether the WM gains came from development or training. These results represent evidence that cognitive challenges are a central piece in the gene-environment interplay during cognitive development. We believe our study sheds new light on previous findings of interindividual differences in education (rich-get-richer and compensation effects), brain plasticity in children, and the heritability increase of intelligence across the lifespan.

Timing is critical: Gene, environment and timing interactions in genetics of suicide in children and adolescents

2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 284-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Zalsman
Keyword(s):  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Promoter Polymorphism ◽  
Imaging Data ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Gene Environment ◽  
Related Development ◽  
Serotonin Transporter Promoter Polymorphism ◽  
Family Based ◽  
And Gender

AbstractSuicidal behavior runs in families and is prevalent in adolescence. Case-control and family-based studies in this age group failed to find a genetic association that survived replications. Gene environment approach gave new hope for possible associations especially with the short allele of the serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR). However, a recent meta-analysis raised doubts about the consistency of these findings. Some new structural and functional imaging data may shade light on the age-related and gender-related development of the brain. This review suggests a new approach to gene by environment and timing interaction to understand the interplay that leads to suicidality in adolescents and young adults.

A Developmental Perspective on the Genetic Basis of Alcohol Use Disorder

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa M. Trucco ◽  
Gabriel L. Schlomer ◽  
Brian M. Hicks
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Alcohol Use Disorder ◽  
Developmental Perspective ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Intermediate Phenotypes ◽  
Problematic Alcohol ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Problematic Alcohol Use

Approximately 48–66% of the variation in alcohol use disorders is heritable. This chapter provides an overview of the genetic influences that contribute to alcohol use disorder within a developmental perspective. Namely, risk for problematic alcohol use is framed as a function of age-related changes in the relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors and an end state of developmental processes. This chapter discusses the role of development in the association between genes and the environment on risk for alcohol use disorder. Designs used to identify genetic factors relevant to problematic alcohol use are discussed. Studies examining developmental pathways to alcohol use disorder with a focus on endophenotypes and intermediate phenotypes are reviewed. Finally, areas for further investigation are offered.

scholarly journals Cerebral functional networks during sleep in young and older individuals

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Véronique Daneault ◽  
Pierre Orban ◽  
Nicolas Martin ◽  
Christian Dansereau ◽  
Jonathan Godbout ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Brain Plasticity ◽  
Network Connectivity ◽  
Sleep Stages ◽  
Functional Networks ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Light Sleep

AbstractEven though sleep modification is a hallmark of the aging process, age-related changes in functional connectivity using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) during sleep, remain unknown. Here, we combined electroencephalography and fMRI to examine functional connectivity differences between wakefulness and light sleep stages (N1 and N2 stages) in 16 young (23.1 ± 3.3y; 7 women), and 14 older individuals (59.6 ± 5.7y; 8 women). Results revealed extended, distributed (inter-between) and local (intra-within) decreases in network connectivity during sleep both in young and older individuals. However, compared to the young participants, older individuals showed lower decreases in connectivity or even increases in connectivity between thalamus/basal ganglia and several cerebral regions as well as between frontal regions of various networks. These findings reflect a reduced ability of the older brain to disconnect during sleep that may impede optimal disengagement for loss of responsiveness, enhanced lighter and fragmented sleep, and contribute to age effects on sleep-dependent brain plasticity.

scholarly journals The Development of Expressive Drawing Abilities during Childhood and into Adolescence

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Delphine Picard ◽  
Christophe Gauthier
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Development ◽  
Sample Size ◽  
Comprehensive View ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Developmental Shift ◽  
Complex Forms ◽  
Age Range ◽  
Age Related Changes ◽  
The Way

The way children portray emotions in their drawings of human and nonhuman topics is assumed to reflect their artistic, emotional, and cognitive development. This study was designed to investigate the development of expressive drawings during childhood and into adolescence, using a large age range (5–15 years) and sample size (N=480), so as to provide a precise and comprehensive view of age-related changes in children’s ability to produce expressive drawings. More specifically, we focused on children’s developing ability to use the techniques of literal and metaphorical expression, either alone or in combination. We also examined the effects of sex, topics (house, tree, or person), and the depicted emotion (happiness or sadness) on the use of each expressive technique. The main findings were that there is a developmental shift between childhood (5–10 years) and adolescence (11–15 years) in the use of expressive techniques, from simple (literal) to more complex forms of expression (metaphorical).

scholarly journals Bifidobacterial Succession and Correlation Networks in a Large Unselected Cohort of Mothers and Their Children

2012 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 497-507 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Avershina ◽  
O. Storrø ◽  
T. Øien ◽  
R. Johnsen ◽  
R. Wilson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Populations ◽  
Bifidobacterium Adolescentis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Correlation Networks ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Related Development ◽  
Healthy Cohort ◽  
Stool Samples ◽  
The Individual

ABSTRACTBifidobacteria are a major microbial component of infant gut microbiota, which is believed to promote health benefits for the host and stimulate maturation of the immune system. Despite their perceived importance, very little is known about the natural development of and possible correlations between bifidobacteria in human populations. To address this knowledge gap, we analyzed stool samples from a randomly selected healthy cohort of 87 infants and their mothers with >90% of vaginal delivery and nearly 100% breast-feeding at 4 months. Fecal material was sampled during pregnancy, at 3 and 10 days, at 4 months, and at 1 and 2 years after birth. Stool samples were predicted to be rich in the speciesBifidobacterium adolescentis,B. bifidum,B. dentium,B. breve, andB. longum. Due to high variation, we did not identify a clear age-related structure at the individual level. Within the population as a whole, however, there were clear age-related successions. Negative correlations between theB. longumgroup andB. adolescentiswere detected in adults and in 1- and 2-year-old children, whereas negative correlations betweenB. longumandB. brevewere characteristic for newborns and 4-month-old infants. The highly structured age-related development of and correlation networks between bifidobacterial species during the first 2 years of life mirrors their different or competing nutritional requirements, which in turn may be associated with specific biological functions in the development of healthy gut.

GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH RETICULAR PSEUDODRUSEN IN AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION

Retina ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 998-1004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie Puche ◽  
Rocio Blanco-Garavito ◽  
Florence Richard ◽  
Nicolas Leveziel ◽  
Jennyfer Zerbib ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Reticular Pseudodrusen ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors

Walnut diets up-regulate the decreased hippocampal neurogenesis and age-related cognitive dysfunction in d-galactose induced aged rats

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 4755-4762 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei An ◽  
Yuchen Sun ◽  
Wei Zhang ◽  
Xiaolong Huang ◽  
Rui Xue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Dysfunction ◽  
Dietary Intervention ◽  
Brain Plasticity ◽  
Hippocampal Neurogenesis ◽  
Aged Rats ◽  
Age Related

Recently, dietary intervention has been considered as a prospective strategy in delaying age-related cognitive dysfunction and brain plasticity degeneration.

scholarly journals Complement System and Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Implications of Gene-Environment Interaction for Preventive and Personalized Medicine

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Maugeri ◽  
Martina Barchitta ◽  
Maria Grazia Mazzone ◽  
Francesco Giuliano ◽  
Antonella Agodi
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Personalized Medicine ◽  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Complement System ◽  
Genetic Variants ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Gene Environment Interaction ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Gene Environment

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of visual loss in developed countries, with a significant economic and social burden on public health. Although genome-wide and gene-candidate studies have been enabled to identify genetic variants in the complement system associated with AMD pathogenesis, the effect of gene-environment interaction is still under debate. In this review we provide an overview of the role of complement system and its genetic variants in AMD, summarizing the consequences of the interaction between genetic and environmental risk factors on AMD onset, progression, and therapeutic response. Finally, we discuss the perspectives of current evidence in the field of genomics driven personalized medicine and public health.

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