GARpe

Childhood overweight and obesity present a growing global challenge, demanding early intervention. In this project, we will explore the impact of imbalanced perinatal nutrition on the gut-brain axis and its effects on reward neural circuits, investigating how the remodeling of this axis may contribute to this epidemic later in life. It is already known that vagal signaling is altered in obese adults and those exposed to high-fat, high-sugar diets, playing a significant role in the overconsumption of such diets. What about this early remodeling, especially when this deleterious exposure occurs during a critical developmental period? This multifaceted project synergizes the expertise of various partners to address vital biological questions focused on the perinatal impacts of nutritional disorders on the gut-brain axis, contributing to the obesity epidemic. Through cutting-edge methods and interdisciplinary collaboration, it aims to unveil the complex mechanisms of this critical developmental phase. Addressing these concerns underscores the importance of exploring perinatal nutrition's impact on the gut-brain axis and its potential in proactive preventive strategies.