Different studies have highlighted the role of FOXO transcription factors in induction of autophagy in various types of cells.27-31 Up-regulation of FOXO1 and FOXO3A in the blood (mainly lymphocytes) of patients with obesity and depression might reflect similar changes in the expression pattern of these genes in neural cells.56 Therefore, increasing forkhead gene expression could cause uncontrolled autophagy events, lead to neural death and increase the risk of neurodegeneration in these patients. The gene discussed is FOXO1; the disease is obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.