B4711 - The early-life exposome and its relations to psychopathology neurodevelopment and DNA methylation - 07/10/2024

B number: 
B4711
Principal applicant name: 
Patricia P. Silveira | McGill University Douglas Mental Health University Institute - Douglas Research Centre (Canada)
Co-applicants: 
Vera Karlbauer, Patricia Maidana Miguel, Darina Dzamara
Title of project: 
The early-life exposome and its relations to psychopathology, neurodevelopment, and DNA methylation
Proposal summary: 

A wide range of different environmental factors from before birth to early childhood (for example maternal stress and depression, family income, childhood maltreatment, or the home food environment) contributes to increased risk for developing mental and physical health problems later in life. Usually, these factors are studied in isolation, without considering how they might interact and affect each other. In our project at the McGill Douglas Mental Health University Institute, we want to analyse all of these factors in one statistical model and see whether they cluster into different subdomains. We will then investigate if those subdomains are predictive of behavioural and cognitive problems, body mass index, and epigenetic aging.

Impact of research: 
The results of our analyses will help us improve our understanding of the early-life environment and will allow us to link specific components of the environment to specific health outcomes and biological processes. This could inform targeted interventions on the environment in order to improve mental and metabolic health problems in children.
Date proposal received: 
Wednesday, 2 October, 2024
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 7 October, 2024
Keywords: 
Mental health - Psychology, Psychiatry, Cognition, Mental health, Obesity, GWAS, Epigenetics