Identifying biomarkers and trajectories of executive functions and language development in the first 3 years of life: Design, methods, and findings of the Germina cohort study

Author(s):Show less -

Fatori, Daniel ; Shephard, Elizabeth ; Benette, Danilo ; Naspolini, Nathalia Ferrazzo ; Guzman, Grover Castro ; Wang, Jaqueline Yu Ting ; Totolo, Pedro ; Mafra, Anthonieta Looman ; Isaias, Caio ; dos Santos, Davi Pereira ; Russo, Fabiele Baldino ; Kobayashi, Gerson ; Argeu, Adriana ; Teixeira, Monike ; Mattiello-Sverzut, Ana Claudia ; Fernandes, Maria Teresa Bechere ; Petian-Alonso, Danila Cristina ; Brentani, Helena ; Scliar, Marilia ; Schuroff, Paulo Alfonso ; Zuccolo, Pedro ; Lerner, Rogerio ; Geraldini, Stephania ; Euclydes, Veronica Luiza Vale ; Matijasevich, Alicia ; de Campos, Alline Cristina ; de Carvalho, Andre Carlos Ponce ; Fujita, Andre ; Taddei, Carla R. ; Passos-Bueno, Maria Rita ; Beltrao-Braga, Patricia ; Polanczyk, Guilherme Vanoni

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: DEVELOPMENT AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY; v. N/A, p. 11-pg., 2025-03-05.

Abstract

This paper reports the methods and preliminary findings of Germina, an ongoing cohort study to identify biomarkers and trajectories of executive functions and language development in the first 3 years of life. 557 mother-infant dyads (mean age of mothers 33.7 years, 65.2% white, 48.7% male infants) have undergone baseline and are currently collecting data for other timepoints. A linear regression was used to predict baseline Bayley-III using scores derived from data-driven sparse partial least squares utilizing a multiple holdout framework of 15 domains. Significant associations were found between socioeconomic/demographic characteristics (B = 0.29), epigenetics (B = 0.11), EEG theta (B = 0.14) and beta activity (B = 0.11), and microbiome functional pathways (B = 0.08) domains, and infant development measured by the Bayley-III at T1, suggesting potential interventions to prevent impairments. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/05964-1 - Effects of biological and environmental factors and psychosocial intervention on early neurodevelopmental pathways in vulnerable children
• Grantee: Elizabeth Shephard
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 23/04619-7 - Endocannabidiome as a tool to determine biomarkers candidates of the gut-brain-axis development during the first 1,000 days of life
• Grantee: Alline Cristina de Campos
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants