Epigenetic timing effects on child developmental outcomes: a longitudinal meta-regression of findings from the Pregnancy And Childhood Epigenetics Consortium.

ABSTRACT:

Background

DNA methylation (DNAm) is a developmentally dynamic epigenetic process; yet, most epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) have examined DNAm at only one timepoint or without systematic comparisons between timepoints. Thus, it is unclear whether DNAm alterations during certain developmental periods are more informative than others for health outcomes, how persistent epigenetic signals are across time, and whether epigenetic timing effects differ by outcome.

Methods

We applied longitudinal meta-regression models to published meta-analyses from the PACE consortium that examined DNAm at two timepoints-prospectively at birth and cross-sectionally in childhood-in relation to the same child outcome (ADHD symptoms, general psychopathology, sleep duration, BMI, asthma).

SUBMITTER: Neumann A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11995515 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature