Epigenetic modifications in genes involved in smelling seem to correlate with obesity indicators, like body mass index and waist circumference, by influencing a person’s eating habits, a new study has found. The study, “Associations between olfactory pathway gene methylation marks, obesity features and dietary intakes,” was published…
A violinist with vasculitis, two Texas politicians and a pharmaceutical company whose marijuana-derived therapy helps kids with Dravet syndrome were among winners of the 2019 Rare Impact Awards. Officials of the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) presented the awards during a June 22 dinner attended by…
People born in the U.S. have higher body mass index (BMI) and a greater risk of obesity than those born abroad, according to a large New York-based study. The data also revealed that African ancestry is associated with the likelihood of being obese in U.S.-born women. The research, “…
Europe’s umbrella organization for 800 rare disease associations has developed a sweeping initiative to help the continent’s 30 million rare disease patients and their caregivers learn about their conditions, find assistance and receive treatment. Eurordis-Rare Diseases Europe hopes to improve the current piecemeal treatment and support program with a holistic,…
A lifestyle of high physical activity and low sedentary habits may counterbalance the genetic predisposition some individuals have for developing obesity, a study says. The findings of the study, “Do physical activity, commuting mode, cardiorespiratory fitness and sedentary behaviours modify the genetic predisposition to higher BMI? Findings from…
Genetic variations in the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene are strongly associated with obesity in both children and adults in the Chinese population, a study reports. The study, “FTO gene polymorphisms and obesity risk in Chinese population: a meta-analysis,” was published in the World Journal of Pediatrics. The…
People with rare diseases know that the right government policies can make a big difference in the quality of their own lives, and those of their caregivers. But most lawmakers aren’t experts in even one well-known disease — let alone the world’s estimated 7,000 rare disorders. So how does the…
Mutations in genes belonging to the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) pathway are linked to severe obesity but these cases are generally under-diagnosed and poorly understood. Therefore, a new registry, called TEMPO, has been set up to collect data from these patients with the goal of using it as a platform to…
A computational analysis comparing the gene activity patterns and gene networks of normal-weight and overweight individuals has provided new insights into factors that could underlie overweight and obesity genetic risk. The study, “Comprehensive and Systematic Analysis of Gene Expression Patterns Associated with Body Mass Index,” was published in…
Scientists have created a new tool that allows them to look in an unbiased manner for genes that may be involved in several traits, such as a person’s height or risk of developing obesity, a study suggests. The study, “Benchmarker: An Unbiased, Association-Data-Driven Strategy to Evaluate Gene Prioritization…
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