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The Genomics and Epigenomics Group at CHeBA has contributed to over 100 publications. Six recent papers are featured below.

Identification of blood eQTLs in older adults

Toyin A, Mather KA, Armstrong NJ, Ciobanu LG, Baune BT, Kwok JB, Schofield PR, Ames D, Trollor JN, Sachdev PS, Thalamuthu A.  Gene. 2025; 946:149291. . Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39923881. 

This study identified genetic polymorphisms that influence blood gene expression using older adults from the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study (Sydney MAS) and the Older Australian Twins Study (OATS). This catalogue of over 6500 expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) will be a useful resource for future studies seeking to better understand the functional impact of genetic variation. 

Interplay of Genes and Environment across Multiple Studies (IGEMS) consortium , 2024, 'Longitudinal associations between fruit and vegetable intakes and depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults from four international twin cohorts.

Matison AP; Thalamuthu A; Flood VM; Catts VS; Christensen K; Nygaard M; Pedersen NL; Sachdev PS; Reppermund S; Mather KA;  Sci Rep, 14, pp. 29711, 

This recently published study examines the longitudinal associations between fruit and vegetable intake and depressive symptoms in twins aged 45 years and above, over a period of up to 11 years, from four international cohorts from the IGEMS Consortium. The results indicated modest beneficial associations between higher fruit and vegetable intakes and depressive symptoms over time. This beneficial relationship for depression may be due to the high levels of dietary fibre, vitamins and micronutrients contained in fruit and vegetables. 

Associations between fruit and vegetable intakes and incident depression in middle-aged and older adults from 10 diverse international longitudinal cohorts

Matison AP; Flood VM; Lam BCP; Lipnicki DM; Tucker KL; Preux PM; Guerchet M; d'Orsi E; Quialheiro A; Rech CR; Skoog I; Najar J; Rydberg Sterner T; Scarmeas N; Kosmidis MH; Yannakoulia M; Gureje O; Ojagbemi A; Bello T; Shahar S; Fakhruddin NNINM; Rivan NFM; Anstey KJ; Cherbuin N; Mortby ME; Ho R; Brodaty H; Sachdev PS; Reppermund S; Mather KA, 2024, Journal of Affective Disorders, 359, pp. 373 - 381, 

This study examines the role of fruit and vegetable intake on the incidence of depression in a community sample of adults aged ≥ 68, from ten diverse cohorts including four cohorts from low- to middle-income countries (LMICs) from the COSMIC Consortium. The results indicated a higher intake of fruit is associated with lower risk of incident depression whereas no association was observed for vegetable intake and incident depression. 

Heritability of Gene Expression Measured from Peripheral Blood in Older Adults. Genes

Kanchibhotla, S. C., Mather, K. A., Armstrong, N. J., Ciobanu, L. G., Baune, B. T., Catts, V. S., Schofield, P. R., Trollor, J. N., Ames, D., Sachdev, P. S., & Thalamuthu, A. (2024).  15(4), 495.

This study investigates the heritability of blood gene expression in a sample of 246 older twins, aged 75 and above, recruited as part of Older Australian Twins study. A total of ~24% of the available genes for analysis were heritable in older adults, with many of these heritable genes involving in immune-related biological processes. A cross-study comparison revealed a small set of 38 genes that were significantly heritable and were in general involved in the immune response. 

Genetic and environmental influences on fruit and vegetable consumption and depression in older adults

Matison AP; Thalamuthu A; Flood VM; Trollor JN; Catts VS; Wright MJ; Ames D; Brodaty H; Sachdev PS; Reppermund S; Mather KA, 2023, BMC Geriatrics, 23, pp. 67, 

This study estimates the role of genetic and environmental factors on the consumption of fruit and vegetables in older twins. Analysis was done on 374 twins aged ≥ 65 years, recruited as part of the Older Australian Twins Study. The results indicated that the vegetable intake was moderately influenced by genetics with high heritability for brassica vegetables. However, overall fruit intake was not significantly heritable. In addition, no significant genetic correlations were detected between fruit and vegetable intake and depressive symptoms. 

High polygenic risk score for exceptional longevity is associated with a healthy metabolic profile

Revelas, M., Thalamuthu, A., Zettergren, A. et al.  GeroScience 45, 399–413 (2023).

This study evaluates the association between polygenic risk scores for exceptional longevity (ELPRS) with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome measures in participants from five cohorts. Primary analysis was done in the UK Biobank whereas replication analysis was performed using three Australian cohorts and a Swedish cohort. All participants were of middle-aged to older adults. The results suggest individuals with a high ELPRS have a healthy metabolic profile promoting longevity.