Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Obesity is a multifactorial disease in which environmental conditions and several genes play an important role in the development of this disease. Obesity is associated with neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer, Parkinson, and Huntington diseases) and with neurodevelopmental diseases (autism disorder, schizophrenia, and fragile X syndrome). Some of the environmental conditions that lead to obesity are physical activity, alcohol consumption, socioeconomic status, parent feeding behavior, and diet. Interestingly, some of these environmental conditions are shared with neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases. Obesity impairs neurodevelopment abilities as memory and fine-motor skills. Moreover, maternal obesity affects the cognitive function and mental health of the offspring. The common biological mechanisms involved in obesity and neurodegenerative/neurodevelopmental diseases are insulin resistance, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative damage, among others, leading to impaired brain development or cell death. Obesogenic environmental conditions are not the only factors that influence neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases. In fact, several genes implicated in the leptin-melanocortin pathway ( LEP , LEPR , POMC , BDNF , MC4R , PCSK1 , SIM1 , BDNF , TrkB , etc.) are associated with obesity and neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases. Moreover, in the last decades, the discovery of new genes associated with obesity ( FTO, NRXN3, NPC1, NEGR1, MTCH2, GNPDA2 , among others) and with neurodegenerative or neurodevelopmental diseases ( APOE, CD38, SIRT1, TNF α, PAI-1, TREM2, SYT4, FMR1, TET3 , among others) had opened new pathways to comprehend the common mechanisms involved in these diseases. In conclusion, the obesogenic environmental conditions, the genes, and the interaction gene-environment would lead to a better understanding of the etiology of these diseases.
Key findings
- Obesity is associated with neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer, Parkinson, and Huntington diseases) and with neurodevelopmental diseases (autism disorder, schizophrenia, and fragile X syndrome).
- In fact, several genes implicated in the leptin-melanocortin pathway ( LEP , LEPR , POMC , BDNF , MC4R , PCSK1 , SIM1 , BDNF , TrkB , etc.) are associated with obesity and neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases.
- Moreover, in the last decades, the discovery of new genes associated with obesity ( FTO, NRXN3, NPC1, NEGR1, MTCH2, GNPDA2 , among others) and with neurodegenerative or neurodevelopmental diseases ( APOE, CD38, SIRT1, TNF α, PAI-1, TREM2, SYT4, FMR1, TET3 , among others) had opened new pathways to comprehend the common mechanisms involved in these diseases.
- In conclusion, the obesogenic environmental conditions, the genes, and the interaction gene-environment would lead to a better understanding of the etiology of these diseases.
Why it matters
This review describes shared biological mechanisms like insulin resistance and inflammation between obesity and Alzheimer's, and notes that several genes in the leptin-melanocortin pathway are linked to both conditions. It suggests that environmental and genetic factors common to obesity may also influence neurodegenerative disease, but no treatment or prevention is tested.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 43/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Frontiers in neuroscience) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Frontiers in Neuroscience: journal h-index 226 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2020 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 157 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 19.6 citations a year over 8 year(s) since 2020 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 6.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 96 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Ruth Gutiérrez‐Aguilar: h-index 22 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México: institution h-index 668 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 32982666) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 43 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00863
- PubMed: 32982666
- Original source →
- Free full text: Frontiers in Neuroscience →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Flores-Dorantes, M. T., Díaz-López, Y. E., & Gutiérrez-Aguilar, R. (2020). Environment and Gene Association With Obesity and Their Impact on Neurodegenerative and Neurodevelopmental Diseases. Frontiers in neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2020.00863
Vancouver
Flores-Dorantes MT, Díaz-López YE, Gutiérrez-Aguilar R. Environment and Gene Association With Obesity and Their Impact on Neurodegenerative and Neurodevelopmental Diseases. Frontiers in neuroscience. 2020. doi:10.3389/fnins.2020.00863. PMID: 32982666.
BibTeX
@article{floresdorantes2020-32982666,
author = {Flores-Dorantes, M. T. and Díaz-López, Y. E. and Gutiérrez-Aguilar, R.},
title = {{Environment and Gene Association With Obesity and Their Impact on Neurodegenerative and Neurodevelopmental Diseases}},
journal = {Frontiers in neuroscience},
year = {2020},
doi = {10.3389/fnins.2020.00863},
pmid = {32982666},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2020.00863}
}
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