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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03116334

Genetic Influences Between Cognitive Function and BMI

In this study the investigators will interrogate an existing data set to examine whether genetic variants contribute to an inverse association between weight status and cognitive function. Investigators hypothesize that body mass index (BMI) will be inversely related to a number of variables measuring cognitive function, and that that this inverse relation will be at least partially attributable to genetic variants which influence both BMI and cognition.

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Key information

Conditions

Obesity Body Weight Nutrition Disorders Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Overnutrition Overweight Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

7 year–15 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Children's Nutrition Research Center

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

About this study

Investigators will use existing data collected as part of the Texas Twin Project (TTP). TTP collected neuropsychological task data on cognition (executive functioning and general cognitive abilities) from a computerized test battery, as well as BMI data, on a sample of 869 twins. Investigators will use information from the known extent of genetic and environmental sharing between members of MZ (monozygotic; identical) and DZ (dizygotic; fraternal) twin pairs to quantify the genetic correlation between measures of cognition and BMI using biometric genetic modeling under the assumptions of the classical twin model. The specific aims are:

  • To examine the association between BMI and executive functioning (EF) in a sample of 869 twin children, ages 7 to 15 years old, who participated in the Texas Twin Project (TTP)
  • To gauge the specificity of EF-BMI relations relative to academic achievement and general cognitive abilities.
  • To examine the relative contribution of genetic and environment influences to the inverse association between BMI and EF

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

All participants in the TTP database with executive functioning and BMI data, without a parent-reported medical disorder affecting growth

Exclusion criteria

Parent-reported medical disorder affecting growth More than one sibling in the dataset (if triplets are present, only two randomly selecting siblings will be included).

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. Executive functioning

    Time frame: 2 hours

    This measure will be derived from a computerized test battery incorporating the Animal Stroop, Stop Signal, Mickey (an anti- Trail Making, Local-Global, Plus-Minus, Digit Span Backward, Symmetry Span, Listening Recall, 2-Back, Keeping Track, and Running Memory for Letters tasks. A latent factor of variance common to all these tasks will be used to indicate "higher order executive functioning".

  2. Body mass index

    Time frame: 10 minutes

    Heights and weights were measured by trained study personnel and BMI will be calculated as weight in kilograms (kg) divided by height in centimeters (cm) squared.

Secondary outcomes

  1. General Cognitive Ability

    Time frame: 1 hour

    This was assessed using the WASI-II

  2. Academic Achievement

    Time frame: 30 minutes

    This was assessed using the Woodcock-Johnson-III Calculations and Passage Comprehension tests

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Baylor College of Medicine

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Shared Genetic Influences Between Cognitive Function and Body Mass Index (BMI) in the Texas Twin Project

Important dates

Study start
2009
Primary completion
2016
Study completion
2016
First posted
Apr 17, 2017
Registry last updated
Apr 18, 2017

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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