A2 Refereed review article in a scientific journal
Consortium profile: the methylation, imaging and NeuroDevelopment (MIND) consortium
Authors: Schuurmans, Isabel K.; Mulder, Rosa H.; Baltramonaityte, Vilte; Lahtinen, Alexandra; Qiuyu, Fan; Rothmann, Leonardo Melo; Staginnus, Marlene; Tuulari, Jetro J.; Burt, S. Alexandra; Buss, Claudia; Craig, Jeffrey M.; Donald, Kirsten A.; Eriksson, Johan G.; Felix, Janine F.; Freeman, Tom P.; Grassi-Oliveira, Rodrigo; Huels, Anke; Hyde, Luke W.; Jones, Scott A.; Karlsson, Hasse; Karlsson, Linnea; Koen, Nastassja; Lawn, Will; Mitchell, Colter; Monk, Christopher S.; Mooney, Michael A.; Muetzel, Ryan; Nigg, Joel T.; Belangero, Síntia Iole Nogueira; Notterman, Daniel; Ong, Yi Ying; O’Connor, Tom; O’Donnell, Kieran J.; Pan, Pedro Mario; Paunio, Tiina; Ryabinin, Peter; Saffery, Richard; Salum, Giovanni A.; Seal, Marc; Silk, Tim J.; Stein, Dan J.; Tan, Ai Peng; Teh, Ai Ling; Wang, Dennis; Zar, Heather; Walton, Esther; Cecil, Charlotte A. M.
Publisher: Springer Nature
Publication year: 2025
Journal:: Molecular Psychiatry
ISSN: 1359-4184
eISSN: 1476-5578
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-025-03203-w
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-025-03203-w
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/500130718
Epigenetic processes, such as DNA methylation, show potential as biological markers and mechanisms underlying gene-environment interplay in the prediction of mental health and other brain-based phenotypes. However, little is known about how peripheral epigenetic patterns relate to individual differences in the brain itself. An increasingly popular approach to address this is by combining epigenetic and neuroimaging data; yet, research in this area is almost entirely comprised of cross-sectional studies in adults. To bridge this gap, we established the Methylation, Imaging and NeuroDevelopment (MIND) Consortium, which aims to bring a developmental focus to the emerging field of Neuroimaging Epigenetics by (i) promoting collaborative, adequately powered developmental research via multi-cohort analyses; (ii) increasing scientific rigor through the establishment of shared pipelines and open science practices; and (iii) advancing our understanding of DNA methylation-brain dynamics at different developmental periods (from birth to emerging adulthood), by leveraging data from prospective, longitudinal pediatric studies. MIND currently integrates 16 cohorts worldwide, comprising (repeated) measures of DNA methylation in peripheral tissues (blood, buccal cells, and saliva) and neuroimaging by magnetic resonance imaging across up to five time points over a period of up to 21 years (Npooled DNAm = 12,877; Npooled neuroimaging = 10,899; Npooled combined = 6074). By triangulating associations across multiple developmental time points and study types, we hope to generate new insights into the dynamic relationships between peripheral DNA methylation and the brain, and how these ultimately relate to neurodevelopmental and psychiatric phenotypes.
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Funding information in the publication:
The work of CAMC is supported by the European Union’s HorizonEurope Research and Innovation Programme (FAMILY, grant agreement No 101057529; HappyMums, grant agreement No 101057390) and the European Research Council (TEMPO; grant agreement No 101039672). This research was conducted while CAMC was a Hevolution/AFAR New Investigator Awardee in Aging Biology and Geroscience Research. EW and CAMC are supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme (EarlyCause, grant agreement No 848158). EW, MS and VB received funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the UK government’s Horizon Europe / ERC Frontier Research Guarantee [BrainHealth, grant number EP/Y015037/1]. EW also received funding from the National Institute of Mental Health of the National Institutes of Health (award number R01MH113930).
