| Title: | Multifactorial Analysis of Brain Function, Structure, and Disease Risk: Investigating Genetic, Lifestyle, and Social Determinants of Neurological and Mental Health Using UK Biobank Data |
| Lead Institution: | Jilin University |
| Principal investigator: |
Application 769193
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About
Research Outline: Investigating Brain Function, Structure, and Disease Risk Factors and the Impact of Social Factors on Health Research Questions: 1. What genetic, lifestyle, metabolic, and environmental factors influence brain function, structure, and neurodegenerative diseases? 2. How do social determinants affect brain aging, cognitive function, and mental well-being? 3. What interactions exist between genetic predisposition, biomarkers, and lifestyle factors in brain health and neurodegenerative disease risk? 4. Can predictive models be developed using multi-modal data (neuroimaging, genetics, biomarkers, and social factors) to assess disease risks? Research Objectives: 1. Quantify the impact of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors on brain function, structure, and neurodegeneration. 2. Investigate how social determinants (e.g., socioeconomic status, education, urbanization) shape brain health and mental well-being. 3. Explore shared mechanisms between neurodegenerative, metabolic, and mental health disorders. 4. Develop machine learning-based predictive models using UK Biobank data to assess disease risks and identify high-risk individuals. 5. Provide evidence-based recommendations for early intervention and prevention strategies. Scientific Basis: 1. Genetics: Polygenic risk scores (PRS) contribute to neurodegenerative and mental disorders. 2. Neuroimaging: Structural and functional brain changes are early indicators of cognitive decline and disease progression. 3. Biomarkers: Inflammatory markers, cholesterol, and metabolic indicators associate with disease onset. 4. Lifestyle Factors: Diet, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption impact brain and metabolic health. 5. Social Determinants: Socioeconomic status, education, and psychosocial stress influence cognitive function and mental health.3 Publications
| Pub ID | Title | Author(s) | Year | Journal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20565 | A large-scale human plasma metabolite atlas from over 380,000 participants | Zhirong Li (+4) | 2026 | Communications Biology |
| 20537 | Metabolomic signatures of brain aging: A multimodal and genetic study | Zhirong Li (+4) | 2026 | Molecular Psychiatry |
| 20589 | Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and incident depression: an exploratory multi-omics analysis of candidate biological mediators | Zhirong Li (+5) | 2026 | Nutrition Journal |
Enabling scientific discoveries that improve human health