Associations of Arterial Thickness, Stiffness, and Blood Pressure With Brain Morphology in Early Adolescence: A Prospective Population-Based Study.

Background: Arterial wall thickness and stiffness, and high blood pressure have been repeatedly associated with poorer brain health. However, previous studies largely focused on mid- or late-life stages. It is unknown whether any arterial health-related brain changes may be observable already in adolescence.

DNA methylation at birth and fine motor ability in childhood: an epigenome-wide association study with replication.

Lower fine motor performance in childhood has been associated with poorer cognitive development and neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, yet, biological underpinnings remain unclear. DNA methylation (DNAm), an essential process for healthy neurodevelopment, is a key molecular system of interest. In this study, we conducted the first epigenome-wide association study of neonatal DNAm with childhood fine motor ability and further examined the replicability of epigenetic markers in an independent cohort.