Study finds genetic links between childhood weight gain and early puberty

  • 📰 NewsMedical
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 39 sec. here
  • 14 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 61%
  • Publisher: 71%

Genetic News

Puberty,Allele,Brain

Genes can indirectly influence the age at which girls have their first period by accelerating weight gain in childhood, a known risk factor for early puberty, a Cambridge-led study has found.

University of CambridgeJul 1 2024 Other genes can directly affect age of puberty, some with profound effects.

The age at which girls hit puberty and start having periods normally occurs between ages 10 to 15, though this has been getting earlier and earlier in recent decades. The reasons for this are not fully understood. Early puberty is linked with increased risk of a number of diseases in later life, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. Later puberty on the other hand, has been linked to improved health in adulthood and a longer lifespan.

The scientists also analyzed rare genetic variants that are carried by very few people, but which can have large effects on puberty. For example, they found that one in 3,800 women carry variants in the gene ZNF483, which caused these women to experience puberty on average, 1.3 years later.

Puberty Allele Brain Children DNA Epidemiology Frequency Genes Genetics Medical Research Obesity Research

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.
We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 19. in UK

United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Study reveals same genes that can drive cancer also guide neural-circuit growthMany people are familiar with oncogenes—genes long known to be involved in cancers in humans, such as the gene Src. What's less widely understood is that oncogenes didn't evolve just to cause cancer in species, but rather to control events of normal growth and differentiation.
Source: medical_xpress - 🏆 101. / 51 Read more »

Largest ever genetic study of age of puberty in girls shows links with weight gainGenes can indirectly influence the age at which girls have their first period by accelerating weight gain in childhood, a known risk factor for early puberty, a Cambridge-led study has found. Other genes can directly affect age of puberty, some with profound effects.
Source: medical_xpress - 🏆 101. / 51 Read more »

Beyond genes, new research explores mechanics and calcium signalingUsing animals to study heart disease doesn't always translate well to human health outcomes, and human heart cells available for research don't work outside the human body.
Source: NewsMedical - 🏆 19. / 71 Read more »

Scientists identify genes linked to brain cell loss in amyotrophic lateral sclerosisIn a small study, researchers have discovered how a set of genes could cause neurons to die in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The results, published in Nature Aging, provide insight into the root causes of ALS and may lead to new ways to halt disease progression.
Source: medical_xpress - 🏆 101. / 51 Read more »

Unveiling the role of SOS genes in E. coli survival during antibiotic treatmentWhen E. coli detects damage to its genetic material, it sends out an SOS signal that alters activity inside the cells.
Source: NewsMedical - 🏆 19. / 71 Read more »

New AI tool finds rare variants linked to heart disease in 17 genesUsing an advanced artificial intelligence tool, researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have identified rare coding variants in 17 genes that shed light on the molecular basis of coronary artery disease (CAD), the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide.
Source: medical_xpress - 🏆 101. / 51 Read more »