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Up until now, no study has looked specifically at epigenomic landscapes throughout twin samples, discordant for Anorexia nervosa (AN). Our goal was to find evidence to confirm the hypothesis that epigenetic variations play a key role in the aetiology of AN. In this study, we quantified genome-wide patterns of DNA methylation using the Infinium Human DNA Methylation EPIC BeadChip array ("850 K") in DNA samples isolated from whole blood collected from a group of 7 monozygotic twin pairs discordant for AN. Results were then validated performing a genome-wide DNA methylation profiling using DNA extracted from whole blood of a group of non-family-related AN patients and a group of healthy controls. Our first analysis using the twin sample revealed 9 CpGs associated to a gene. The validation analysis showed two statistically significant CpGs with the rank regression method related to two genes associated to metabolic traits, PPP2R2C and CHST1. When doing beta regression, 6 of them showed statistically significant differences, including 3 CpGs associated to genes JAM3, UBAP2L and SYNJ2. Finally, the overall pattern of results shows genetic links to phenotypes which the literature has constantly related to AN, including metabolic and psychological traits. The genes PPP2R2C and CHST1 have both been linked to the metabolic traits type 2 diabetes through GWAS studies. The genes UBAP2L and SYNJ2 have been related to other psychiatric comorbidity., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder that affects physical, psychological, and social quality of life. Square Stepping Exercise (SSE) is an effective balance training program to prevent falls and to stimulate cognitive function in the elderly; however, no study has analyzed the effect of SSE in people with PD. The main objective is to investigate whether the application of SSE is safe, applicable, and can improve balance, and is effective in preventing falls, improving cognitive and psychological aspects and thus maximize quality of life in people with PD. Methods/Design: SSE will be performed three times per week for 8 weeks with an additional month follow-up after the intervention. Sixty people with PD will participate, randomly distributed into two groups: experimental group (SSE: n = 30) and control group (Usual care: n = 30). The primary measurements will be: (1) Applicability, (2) Safety, (3) Balance, and (4) Annual number of falls. Secondary measurements will be: (1) Sociodemographic information, (2) Physical condition, (3) Health-related quality of life, (4) Depressive symptoms, (5) Cognitive aspects, (6) Perceived functional social support, and (7) Anticipatory cognition.

The objective was to evaluate the risk of presenting an alcohol use disorder (AUD) in outpatient psychiatric units and compare it with drug addiction outpatient units and with healthy controls in the same administrative health area. An observational, descriptive, multicenter study was carried out in which a total of 1054 participants were evaluated. Data were obtained by means of the camouflaged CAGE questionnaire, which consists of 4 basic questions camouflaged with 8 other questions about healthy lifestyle habits. Cut-off points 1 and 2 were considered.Of the total number of participants, 588 were psychiatric outpatients, 153 outpatients from addiction centers and 313 healthy individuals. The mean age of the total sample was 45.8 years and the percentage of men was 53.2%. Of the total sample, 38.3% scored ≥1, as did 34.2% of psychiatric patients, 72.5% of drug addicts and 29.4% of healthy people. The ≥2 cut-off was reached by 26.6% of the total sample, 22.6% of psychiatric patients, 64.7% of drug addicts and 15.3% of healthy subjects. The participants with the highest percentage of ≥1 scores were men (48.8%), those younger than 30 years (50%), those with a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder (95.9%) and ADHD (83.3%).Psychiatric patients are at a higher risk of having an AUD than the healthy subjects, although lower than those who are drug addicts, and the CAGE questionnaire is a simple and useful tool to detect the risk patients have to suffer the condition under study.