Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42475341›Full record

Trial reportPloS one2026

Early DNA methylation at the NGFI-A binding site of the NR3C1 1F promoter predicts cognitive functions at age five: Evidence from the Parents as Teachers intervention in the ZEPPELIN study.

Elena Silvia Gardini, Alex Neuhauser, Simone Schaub, Isabelle Kalkusch, Patsawee Rodcharoen, Ulrike Ehlert, Andrea Lanfranchi, Gustavo Turecki, Peter Klaver

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Elena Silvia GardiniInstitute for Special Learning Needs, University of Teacher Education in Special Needs, Zurich, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1169-096X
Alex NeuhauserInstitute for Special Learning Needs, University of Teacher Education in Special Needs, Zurich, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5027-8930
Simone SchaubInstitute for Special Learning Needs, University of Teacher Education in Special Needs, Zurich, Switzerland.
Isabelle KalkuschInstitute for Special Learning Needs, University of Teacher Education in Special Needs, Zurich, Switzerland.
Patsawee RodcharoenInstitute for Special Learning Needs, University of Teacher Education in Special Needs, Zurich, Switzerland.
Ulrike EhlertDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Andrea LanfranchiInstitute for Special Learning Needs, University of Teacher Education in Special Needs, Zurich, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4184-8548
Gustavo TureckiDouglas Research Center, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Peter KlaverInstitute for Special Learning Needs, University of Teacher Education in Special Needs, Zurich, Switzerland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe present study examines the link between DNA methylation at the nerve growth factor-induced protein A (NGFI-A) binding domain of the NR3C1 1F promoter and later cognitive functions in children from families living in disadvantaged psychosocial conditions.

methodsParticipants were 132 children who took part in a Swiss Parents as Teachers (PAT) randomized controlled trial (72 in the intervention group, 60 in the control group). DNA methylation was quantified from saliva samples collected at age three using sodium bisulfite next-generation sequencing (NGS). Cognitive functions were assessed at age five using the SON-R 2.5-7 Intelligence Test.

results(a) DNA methylation at age three was associated with lower IQ at age five through increased concentration problems (indirect effect = -0.083, p = .012); (b) parental disagreement was associated with concentration difficulties through DNA methylation (indirect effect = 0.064, p = .023); and (c) participation in the three-year PAT program was associated with lower methylation levels (β = -0.375, p = .041). The serial pathway from parental disagreement to IQ via methylation and concentration was not significant.

conclusionsThese findings provide preliminary evidence for an association between early DNA methylation at the NGFI-A binding site of the NR3C1 1F promoter and later cognitive functions in children and highlight the potential role of early life stressors and the PAT intervention in shaping these associations. However, given the exploratory nature of this study, replication in larger independent samples is warranted.

Indexed as

CognitionDNA MethylationPromoter Regions, GeneticReceptors, GlucocorticoidBinding SitesChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansMaleParentsNR3C1 protein, humanReceptors, Glucocorticoid

Identifiers

PMID42475341
PMCPMC13384299

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.