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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #362867
Title: Genetic overlap between executive functions and BMI in childhood

Author
item WOOD, ALEXIS - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item VAINIK, UKU - McGill University - Canada
item ENGELHARDT, LAURA - University Of Texas At Austin
item BRILEY, DANIEL - University Of Illinois
item GROETZINGER, A - University Of Texas At Austin
item CHURCH, JESSICA - University Of Texas At Austin
item HARDEN, K - University Of Texas At Austin
item TUCKER-DROB, ELLIOTT - University Of Texas At Austin

Submitted to: The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/8/2019
Publication Date: 6/19/2019
Citation: Wood, A.C., Vainik, U., Engelhardt, L.E., Briley, D.A., Groetzinger, A., Church, J.A., Harden, K.P., Tucker-Drob, E.M. 2019. Genetic overlap between executive functions and BMI in childhood. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqz109.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqz109

Interpretive Summary: As children's weight gets higher, there is an association with attaining lower scores on tests of cognition. However, why this is the case is not well known. The goal of this analysis was to see if any of the genes underlying body mass index (BMI; weight status) and cognition were shared. Using data from nearly 1,000 twins ages 7- to 15-years-old from Houston and Austin (Texas), we confirmed that children with a higher BMI had lower scores on cognitive tests. Almost all of this inverse correlation was attributable to genes shared between BMI and cognitive functioning. In fact, one third of the genes underlying BMI are shared with cognition. The results emphasize that higher weight associates not only with physical difficulties, but also with important cognitive attributes. This may be an important consideration for clinicians treating young children with obesity.

Technical Abstract: Executive functions (EFs) comprise a group of cognitive processes that selectively control and regulate attention. Inverse relations have been reported between EFs and BMI. However, the mechanisms underlying this association are not well understood. We aimed to decompose the inverse relation between EFs and BMI into genetic and environmental components. We employed a cross-sectional analysis of data from 869 twins aged 7–15 y from the Texas Twin Project, who completed a neuropsychological test battery measuring 4 EFs (switching, inhibitory control, working memory, and updating); academic achievement (reading and mathematics); and general cognitive abilities (general intelligence/intelligence quotient; crystallized and fluid intelligence; and processing speed). Participants also had their height and weight measured. After controlling for age, sex, and race/ethnicity, BMI was inversely associated with a general EF factor representing the capacity to control and regulate goal-oriented behaviors (r=-0.125; P=0.01; Q=0.04). This inverse BMI–EF association was due to a significant overlap in genetic factors contributing to each phenotype (genetic correlation, rA,=-0.15; P<0.001). Shared genetic influences accounted for 80% of the phenotypic association. Children with higher general EF have lower BMIs, and this association is primarily attributable to shared genetic influences on both phenotypes. The results emphasize that higher weight associates not only with physical sequelae, but also with important cognitive attributes. This work adds to a growing body of research suggesting there are sets of genetic variants common across physical health and cognitive functioning.