Uku Vainik

Sex-specific associations between education-related genetic factors and fertility extend beyond educational attainment

The paper examines sex-specific links between education-related genetic factors and fertility, finding stronger negative associations in women and weaker or positive associations in men, independent of educational attainment.

Genetic effects on migration behaviour contribute to increasing spatial differentiation at trait-associated loci in Estonia

The paper shows that migration behavior in Estonia increases spatial genetic differentiation at trait-associated loci, with educational attainment PGS driving inter-regional differences.

Genomic structural equation modeling of impulsivity and risk-taking traits reveals three latent factors distinctly associated with brain structure and development

The paper identifies three latent genetic factors of impulsivity and risk-taking traits and links them to distinct brain structures and developmental patterns in children.

Robust inference and widespread genetic correlates from a large-scale genetic association study of human personality

This study identifies 1,257 genetic variants associated with human personality traits using large-scale GWAS and finds widespread genetic correlations with behaviors and life outcomes.

An Updated Polygenic Index Repository: Expanded Phenotypes, New Cohorts, and Improved Causal Inference

The paper updates a polygenic index repository with more phenotypes, datasets, and improved causal inference methods, enhancing predictive performance and interpretability.

From Biobanking to Personalized Medicine: the journey of the Estonian Biobank

The paper reviews the Estonian Biobank's role in advancing genomics research and personalized medicine through its comprehensive data and translational focus.

Association between plausible genetic factors and weight loss from GLP1-RA and bariatric surgery: a multi-ancestry study in 10 960 individuals from 9 biobanks

This study investigates genetic factors influencing weight loss from GLP1-RA and bariatric surgery in 10,960 individuals across 9 biobanks, finding no strong genetic associations with GLP1-RA effectiveness but a modest link between BMI polygenic scores and reduced bariatric surgery weight loss.

The genetic architecture of changes in adiposity during adulthood

This study identifies six novel genetic loci associated with BMI change over adulthood using UK Biobank health records, finding lower heritability for BMI change compared to baseline BMI.

A critical role of brain network architecture in a continuum model of autism spectrum disorders spanning from healthy individuals with genetic liability to individuals with ASD

This study investigates how brain network architecture relates to ASD-related cortical alterations and polygenic risk for ASD using neuroimaging data from multiple cohorts.

Schizophrenia polygenic risk during typical development reflects multiscale cortical organization

This study links schizophrenia polygenic risk to cortical thickness changes in developing children, showing a trajectory toward adult schizophrenia patterns.

Educational Attainment Polygenic Scores, Socioeconomic Factors, and Cortical Structure in Children and Adolescents

This study examines the independent associations of educational attainment polygenic scores and parental education with cortical structure and neurocognitive skills in children and adolescents.

Investigating the genetic and environmental basis of head micromovements during MRI

This study investigates the genetic and environmental factors influencing head motion during MRI, finding no significant single variants and no mediation by physiological or psychological factors.

Relationship between impulsivity, uncontrolled eating and body mass index: a hierarchical model

The paper examines the relationship between impulsivity, uncontrolled eating, and BMI using structural equation models and MRI data, finding associations between impulsivity traits and BMI via uncontrolled eating.

Heritability of cortical morphology reflects a sensory-fugal plasticity gradient

The paper tests if heritability of cortical structure reflects a plasticity gradient, finding that sensory areas have higher heritability than limbic/heteromodal areas.

Non-linear effects of socioeconomic status on brain development: associations between parental occupation, cortical thickness and language skills in childhood and adolescence

The paper examines how socioeconomic status, measured by parental occupation, nonlinearly affects cortical thickness and language skills in children and adolescents.

Neurobehavioural Correlates of Obesity are Largely Heritable

This study investigates the genetic overlap between obesity and neurobehavioural factors using brain imaging data from the Human Connectome Project, finding significant genetic correlations between obesity and brain morphology, cognitive function, and personality traits.

Network Connectivity Determines Cortical Thinning In Early Parkinson’s Disease Progression

The paper shows that cortical thinning in early Parkinson’s Disease correlates with connectivity to subcortical disease reservoirs, suggesting disease spread along neural networks.

Educational attainment and personality are genetically intertwined

The paper examines the genetic overlap between educational attainment and personality traits using polygenic scores in a sample of Estonians.