Happy New Year to All! Hoping everyone has a healthy, happy and productive year in 2015.

I have been working on a topic list for 2015. I will be following my pattern of focusing on a specific brain research topic each month.

During the month I will post primarily on that topic after reviewing relevant research abstracts and manuscripts.

The topic list is taken from areas showing the most reader interest as well as covering area not recently reviewed.

I occasionally post off topic when a specific issue of importance arises.

The topic outline for 2015 will be:
January: Diet, Weight Loss and the Brain
February: Exercise
March: Parenting
April: Attention deficit disorder
May: Conduct disorder
June: Alzheimer's disease
July: Bipolar disorder
August: Social anxiety disorder
September: Migraine headaches
October: Neuropsychology
November: Brain imaging
December: Genetics

Brain Posts aims to select brain research relevant to translation to better clinical care for brain disorders.

Additionally, the blog provides an incentive for me to continue reading, learning and trying to keep up with key brain research advances.

Today's photo is from my files of an edited photo from the Rhema church Christmas lights.

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As 2014 year comes to an end, I will continue the Brain Posts tradition of highlighting the Top Ten most viewed posts for the year.

It is always informative to find the posts that generate the most site visits. I am surprised at some of the posts that make the list and at some of the posts that do not.

Here are the posts making the list for 2014 beginning with number 10. Clicking on the post title will link you to the full post.

Naptime Stories Boost Word Learning in Children

This post summarized an interesting study of reading and word memory retention in children. It highlights the importance of sleep for memory consolidation and retention. The time immediately proceeding naps is an important time to use for teaching.

The Genetics of Religious Belief

In April, I reviewed some recent brain research related to religion and religious belief. The number 9 most viewed post examined a twin study of religious belief. This study found important genetic contributions to adult religious belief and attendance. Apparently, genetic brain wiring contributes to our later religious affiliation.

The Social Brain: Weeking Reading Links 

In 2014 I started posting links to a list of abstracts I felt were important. These came from my PubMed searches on specific topics. Some abstracts were later give a full post but many did not. The Weekend Reading links on the Social Brain was popular and ended up number 8 on the Top Ten list.

Is Insomnia Relief Just a Mouse Click Away?

The number 7 ranked post for 2014 was a review of an internet-based cognitive behavioral treatment for insomnia. This study supported the value of this approach and holds the potential to make CBT treatments more accessible and potential more affordable. Look for more studies of using internet and mobile health approaches for the treatment of common medical conditions.

Acute Brain Response to Exercise in Healthy Adults

There are both acute and chronic effects of exercise on the brain. The number 6 most viewed post this year highlighted a study of acute effects of exercise on healthy adults. The study used advanced brain imaging techniques and demonstrated changes in the pattern of blood flow distribution with exercise. These changes may contribute to the known beneficial effects of exercise on brain plasticity.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I will post the top five viewed posts next week.

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Finding a specific genes linked to specific neuropsychiatric disorders has been a key research strategy.

However, this strategy has not been entirely successful.

One problem with this unitary approach is the diagnostic overlap and comorbidity common to neuropsychiatric disorders such as mood disorders and autism.

A promising alternative strategy is to focus on genes that share risk with more than one neuropsychiatric condition.

Amit Lotan from Israel along with colleagues from the Netherlands, Germany and the U.S. recently published a study of common and distinct genetic components in six major neuropsychiatric disorders.

Their study used large genome wide association databases mined from the National Human Genome Research Institute linked to the following six neuropsychiatric disorders:

• Anxiety disorders
• Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
• Autism/autism spectrum disorders
• Bipolar disorder
• Major depression 
• Schizophrenia

Using a variety of genetic and molecular biology strategies, the research team examined human and mouse genes common to more than one neuropsychiatric disorder as well as genes unique to only one of the six disorders.

The key findings of the study including identification of 15 genes common to five of the six disorders. 

The genes identified in this analysis shared known activity in neuronal function known as postsynaptic density. Additionally, these shared genes are known to influence immune as well as brain function.

Additionally, the research identified two genetic components shared by all six of the disorders. These two components were involved in neuronal projection, synaptic activity, CNS development and cellular process. In total, these two genetic components contributed to 20-30% of the genetic load.

Obviously, 20-30% is a significant shared genetic contribution but it leaves important genetic contributions specific to each of the six conditions. 

The authors conclude in their discussion:

".. it could be hypothesized that a common (pathologic) molecular infrastructure located to neural projections, cytoplasm (or possibly both) may be necessary to induce a primary vulnerability to develop a neuropsychiatric disorder. Further distinct molecular processes which build-up on top of this common infrastructure ultimately lead, in certain patients, to the development of one or another specific neuropsychiatric disorder."

This type of study provides significant insight into the complexity of genetic influences in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Examining shared genetic influences in different conditions can aid in understanding common pathophysiology mechanisms for distinct neuropsychiatric disorders. Additionally, these types of studies show the limitations of current diagnostic classification systems and may aid in future refinement of diagnostic systems.

Readers with more interest in this research can access the free full-text manuscript by clicking on the PMID link in the citation below. 

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Lotan A, Fenckova M, Bralten J, Alttoa A, Dixson L, Williams RW, & van der Voet M (2014). Neuroinformatic analyses of common and distinct genetic components associated with major neuropsychiatric disorders. Frontiers in neuroscience, 8 PMID: 25414627

I am focusing on recent research in eating disorders this month on Brain Posts.

Here are some of the research abstracts I will be reviewing for upcoming posts.

Clicking on the title will take you to the PubMed abstract and also to a link for the free full-text manuscript.

Higher parental education as a risk factor for eating disorders
This study of the Swedish population examined the effect education and social class on risk for eating disorders. Individuals diagnosed with an eating disorder were more likely to have higher educational levels in their parents. This is an interesting finding as educational typically reduces rates for many psychiatric disorders. 

Increased rates of autoimmune diseases in patients with eating disorders
A study of a large cohort from Finland found higher rates of a variety of autoimmune disorders in a sample of patients treated for eating disorders. Type I diabetes and Crohn's disease were two of the disorders that were more likely to be seen in eating disorder patients compared to controls.

Epidemiology of eating disorders
This literature examined 149 studies on the epidemiology of eating disorders. The review found evidence for genetic and environmental factors as risk factors for eating disorders. Additionally, the review found support for esthetic or weight-oriented sport participation also as risk factors for eating disorders.

Evidence for effective treatment options of eating disorders in young people
This review examined evidence for effective prevention and treatment of eating disorders in adolescents and young adults. The authors note the paucity of large well-designed clinical trials for the treatment of most eating disorders and make recommendations about directions for future research. 

Inferior frontal cortex network abnormalities in anorexia nervosa
This study examined resting functional connectivity in 12 subjects with anorexia nervosa compared to controls. The study found impairment in connectivity in the inferior frontal cortex in those with anorexia nervosa.

Binge eating and risk for gastrointestinal disorders
The Swedish Twin Study of Adults: Genes and Environment (STAGE) cohort was used to look for associations between binge eating and gastrointestinal disorders. Binge eating was found to be increased in irritable bowel syndrome and may be important in effectively managing this disorder. 

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