1
|
Finkel D, Gatz M, Franz CE, Catts VS, Christensen K, Kremen W, Nygaard M, Plassman BL, Sachdev PS, Whitfield K, Pedersen NL. Age and Sex Differences in the Genetic Architecture of Measures of Subjective Health: Relationships With Physical Health, Depressive Symptoms, and Episodic Memory. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2024; 79:gbae062. [PMID: 38632885 PMCID: PMC11127482 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbae062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Subjective health (SH) is not just an indicator of physical health, but also reflects active cognitive processing of information about one's own health and has been associated with emotional health measures, such as neuroticism and depression. Behavior genetic approaches investigate the genetic architecture of SH, that is, genetic and environmental influences on individual differences in SH and associations with potential components such as physical, cognitive, and emotional health. Previous twin analyses have been limited by sex, sample size, age range, and focus on single covariates. METHODS The current analysis used data from 24,173 adults ranging in age from 40 to 90 years from the international Interplay of Genes and Environment across Multiple Studies consortium to investigate the genetic architecture of 3 measures of SH: self-rated health, health compared to others, and impact of health on activities. Independent pathways model of SH included physical health, depressive symptoms, and episodic memory, with age, sex, and country included as covariates. RESULTS Most or all of the genetic variance for SH measures were shared with physical health, depressive symptoms, and episodic memory. Genetic architecture of SH differed across measures, age groups (40-65, 66-90), and sexes. Age comparisons indicated stronger correlations with all 3 covariates in older adults, often resulting from greater shared genetic variance. DISCUSSION The predictive value of SH has been amply demonstrated. The higher genetic contributions to associations between SH and its components in older adults support the increasing conceptualization with age of SH as an intuitive summation of one's vital reserve.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Finkel
- Center for Economic and Social Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Institute for Gerontology, College of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Margaret Gatz
- Center for Economic and Social Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Carol E Franz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Vibeke S Catts
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW, Sydney, Australia
| | - Kaare Christensen
- Danish Aging Research Center, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - William Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Marianne Nygaard
- The Danish Twin Registry, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Brenda L Plassman
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Perminder S Sachdev
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW, Sydney, Australia
| | - Keith Whitfield
- Department of Psychology and Brain and Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
| | - Nancy L Pedersen
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Pilgrim MJD, Beam CR, Nygaard M, Finkel D. Prospective Effects of Self-Rated Health on Dementia Risk in Two Twin Studies of Aging. Behav Genet 2024:10.1007/s10519-024-10182-1. [PMID: 38822218 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-024-10182-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Subjective health ratings are associated with dementia risk such that those who rate their health more poorly have increased risk for dementia. The genetic and environmental mechanisms underlying this association are unclear, as prior research cannot rule out whether the association is due to genetic confounds. The current study addresses this gap in two samples of twins, one from Sweden (N = 548) and one from Denmark (N = 4,373). Using genetically-informed, bivariate regression models, we assessed whether additive genetic effects explained the association between subjective health and dementia risk as indexed by a latent variable proxy measure. Age at intake, sex, education, depressive symptomatology, and follow-up time between subjective health and dementia risk assessments were included as covariates. Results indicate that genetic variance and other sources of confounding accounted for the majority of the effect of subjective health ratings on dementia risk. After adjusting for genetic confounding and other covariates, a small correlation was observed between subjective health and latent dementia risk in the Danish sample (rE = - .09, p < .05). The results provide further support for the genetic association between subjective health and dementia risk, and also suggest that subjective ratings of health measures may be useful for predicting dementia risk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J D Pilgrim
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.
| | - Christopher R Beam
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
- Davis School of Gerontology, Universitty of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Marianne Nygaard
- The Danish Twin Registry, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Deborah Finkel
- Center for Economic and Social Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
- Institute for Gerontology, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Finkel D, Zavala C, Franz CE, Pahlen S, Gatz M, Pedersen NL, Finch BK, Dahl Aslan A, Catts VS, Ericsson M, Krueger RF, Martin NG, Mohan A, Mosing MA, Prescott CA, Whitfield KE. Financial strain moderates genetic influences on self-rated health: support for diathesis-stress model of gene-environment interplay. BIODEMOGRAPHY AND SOCIAL BIOLOGY 2022; 67:58-70. [PMID: 35156881 PMCID: PMC9038652 DOI: 10.1080/19485565.2022.2037069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Data from the Interplay of Genes and Environment across Multiple Studies (IGEMS) consortium were used to examine predictions of different models of gene-by-environment interaction to understand how genetic variance in self-rated health (SRH) varies at different levels of financial strain. A total of 11,359 individuals from 10 twin studies in Australia, Sweden, and the United States contributed relevant data, including 2,074 monozygotic and 2,623 dizygotic twin pairs. Age ranged from 22 to 98 years, with a mean age of 61.05 (SD = 13.24). A factor model was used to create a harmonized measure of financial strain across studies and items. Twin analyses of genetic and environmental variance for SRH incorporating age, age2, sex, and financial strain moderators indicated significant financial strain moderation of genetic influences on self-rated health. Moderation results did not differ across sex or country. Genetic variance for SRH increased as financial strain increased, matching the predictions of the diathesis-stress and social comparison models for components of variance. Under these models, environmental improvements would be expected to reduce genetically based health disparities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Finkel
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, Indiana
- Institute of Gerontology and Aging Research Network-Jönköping (ARN-J), Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Catalina Zavala
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Carol E Franz
- Department of Psychology, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - Shandell Pahlen
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, California
| | - Margaret Gatz
- Center for Economic and Social Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Nancy L Pedersen
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Brian K Finch
- Department of Sociology and Spatial Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Anna Dahl Aslan
- Institute of Gerontology and Aging Research Network-Jönköping (ARN-J), Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Vibeke S Catts
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, Australia
| | - Malin Ericsson
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Robert F Krueger
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Nicholas G Martin
- Genetic Epidemiology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Adith Mohan
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, Australia
| | - Miriam A Mosing
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Carol A Prescott
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Keith E Whitfield
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Safe Linkage of Cohort and Population-Based Register Data in a Genomewide Association Study on Health Care Expenditure. Twin Res Hum Genet 2021; 24:103-109. [PMID: 34213412 DOI: 10.1017/thg.2021.18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
There are research questions whose answers require record linkage of multiple databases that may be characterized by limited options for full data sharing. For this purpose, the Open Data Infrastructure for Social Science and Economic Innovations (ODISSEI) consortium has supported the development of the ODISSEI Secure Supercomputer (OSSC) platform that allows researchers to link cohort data to data from Statistics Netherlands and run large-scale analyses in a high-performance computing (HPC) environment. Here, we report a successful record linkage genomewide association (GWA) study on expenditure for total health, mental health, primary and hospital care, and medication. Record linkage for genotype data from 16,726 participants from the Netherlands Twin Register (NTR) with data from Statistics Netherlands was accomplished in the secure OSSC platform, followed by gene-based tests and estimation of total and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based heritability. The total heritability of expenditure ranged between 29.4% (SE 0.8) and 37.5% (SE 0.8), but GWA analyses did not identify SNPs or genes that were genomewide significantly associated with health care expenditure. SNP-based heritability was between 0.0% (SE 3.5) and 5.4% (SE 4.0) and was different from zero for mental health care and primary care expenditure. We conclude that successfully linking genotype data to administrative health care expenditure data from Statistics Netherlands is feasible and demonstrates a series of analyses on health care expenditure. The OSSC platform offers secure possibilities for analyzing linked data in large scale and realizing sample sizes required for GWA studies, providing invaluable opportunities to answer many new research questions.
Collapse
|
5
|
de Vries LP, van Beijsterveldt TCEM, Maes H, Colodro-Conde L, Bartels M. Genetic Influences on the Covariance and Genetic Correlations in a Bivariate Twin Model: An Application to Well-Being. Behav Genet 2021; 51:191-203. [PMID: 33582898 PMCID: PMC8093176 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-021-10046-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The distinction between genetic influences on the covariance (or bivariate heritability) and genetic correlations in bivariate twin models is often not well-understood or only one is reported while the results show distinctive information about the relation between traits. We applied bivariate twin models in a large sample of adolescent twins, to disentangle the association between well-being (WB) and four complex traits (optimism, anxious-depressed symptoms (AD), aggressive behaviour (AGG), and educational achievement (EA)). Optimism and AD showed respectively a strong positive and negative phenotypic correlation with WB, the negative correlation of WB and AGG is lower and the correlation with EA is nearly zero. All four traits showed a large genetic contribution to the covariance with well-being. The genetic correlations of well-being with optimism and AD are strong and smaller for AGG and EA. We used the results of the models to explain what information is retrieved based on the bivariate heritability versus the genetic correlations and the (clinical) implications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lianne P de Vries
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
| | - Toos C E M van Beijsterveldt
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hermine Maes
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Lucía Colodro-Conde
- Psychiatric Genetics, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QL, Australia
| | - Meike Bartels
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kim ES, James P, Zevon ES, Trudel-Fitzgerald C, Kubzansky LD, Grodstein F. Optimism and Healthy Aging in Women and Men. Am J Epidemiol 2019; 188:1084-1091. [PMID: 30834429 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwz056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Revised: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mounting evidence indicates that there are specific associations between higher levels of optimism and healthier behaviors, reduced risk of chronic diseases, and lower mortality. Yet, for public health purposes, it is critical to consider how optimism might be related to a full scope of health conditions in aging-from cognitive to physical health. Using prospective data from the Health and Retirement Study (n = 5,698), we examined whether higher baseline optimism was associated with subsequent increased likelihood of maintaining healthy aging over 6-8 years of follow-up. Optimism was assessed at study baseline (2006 or 2008), and components of healthy aging were assessed every 2 years, defined as: 1) remaining free of major chronic diseases; 2) having no cognitive impairment; and 3) good physical functioning. Hazard ratios were obtained using Cox proportional hazards models, and a range of relevant covariates were considered (sociodemographic factors, depressive symptoms, and health behaviors). After adjusting for sociodemographic factors and depression, the most (top quartile) versus least (bottom quartile) optimistic participants had a 24% increased likelihood of maintaining healthy aging (95% CI: 1.11, 1.38). Further adjustment for health behaviors did not meaningfully change the findings. Optimism, a potentially modifiable health asset, merits further research for its potential to improve likelihood of health in aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric S Kim
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Human Flourishing Program, Institute for Quantitative Social Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Peter James
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Emily S Zevon
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Claudia Trudel-Fitzgerald
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Laura D Kubzansky
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Francine Grodstein
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Renaud J, Barker ET, Hendricks C, Putnick DL, Bornstein MH. The Developmental Origins and Future Implications of Dispositional Optimism in the Transition to Adulthood. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL DEVELOPMENT 2019; 43:221-230. [PMID: 31156285 PMCID: PMC6541423 DOI: 10.1177/0165025418820629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Despite the robust link between dispositional optimism and well-being across the lifespan, the developmental origins of dispositional optimism are unknown. Understanding the pathways that lead to greater optimism during the transition from adolescence into young adulthood may be important given that this stage of the life course involves the navigation of multiple simultaneous psychosocial demands. Maternal attachment security may contribute to greater optimism by promoting perceptions of internal control. Participants were 218 European American children (98 females; 120 males), who completed self-report measures across four waves. A path analysis tested the associations between maternal attachment security (ages 10 and 14), locus of control (age 14), dispositional optimism (ages 18 and 23), and psychological well-being (age 23). Tests of indirect effects showed that greater perceptions of internal control at age 14 mediated the association between age 10 maternal attachment security and age 18 dispositional optimism. Age 18 dispositional optimism mediated associations between age 14 internal control and age 23 psychological well-being. Maternal attachment security may promote dispositional optimism through a greater internal locus of control in adolescence. Given that optimism promotes well-being throughout the lifespan, identifying the pathways through which optimism develops may contribute to understanding how to promote well-being.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jesse Renaud
- Department of Psychology and Centre for Research on Human Development, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Erin T Barker
- Department of Psychology and Centre for Research on Human Development, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Charlene Hendricks
- Child and Family Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Diane L Putnick
- Child and Family Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Marc H Bornstein
- Child and Family Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Harris SE, Hagenaars SP, Davies G, David Hill W, Liewald DCM, Ritchie SJ, Marioni RE, Sudlow CLM, Wardlaw JM, McIntosh AM, Gale CR, Deary IJ. Molecular genetic contributions to self-rated health. Int J Epidemiol 2018; 46:994-1009. [PMID: 27864402 PMCID: PMC5837683 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyw219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Poorer self-rated health (SRH) predicts worse health outcomes, even when adjusted for objective measures of disease at time of rating. Twin studies indicate SRH has a heritability of up to 60% and that its genetic architecture may overlap with that of personality and cognition. Methods: We carried out a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of SRH on 111 749 members of the UK Biobank sample. Univariate genome-wide complex trait analysis (GCTA)-GREML analyses were used to estimate the proportion of variance explained by all common autosomal single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for SRH. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) score regression and polygenic risk scoring, two complementary methods, were used to investigate pleiotropy between SRH in the UK Biobank and up to 21 health-related and personality and cognitive traits from published GWAS consortia. Results: The GWAS identified 13 independent signals associated with SRH, including several in regions previously associated with diseases or disease-related traits. The strongest signal was on chromosome 2 (rs2360675, P = 1.77 x 10-10) close to KLF7. A second strong peak was identified on chromosome 6 in the major histocompatibility region (rs76380179, P = 6.15 x 10-10). The proportion of variance in SRH that was explained by all common genetic variants was 13%. Polygenic scores for the following traits and disorders were associated with SRH: cognitive ability, education, neuroticism, body mass index (BMI), longevity, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, lung function, blood pressure, coronary artery disease, large vessel disease stroke and type 2 diabetes. Conclusions: Individual differences in how people respond to a single item on SRH are partly explained by their genetic propensity to many common psychiatric and physical disorders and psychological traits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Harris
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Medical Genetics Section, University of Edinburgh Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine and MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Saskia P Hagenaars
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Department of Psychology.,Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Gail Davies
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Department of Psychology
| | - W David Hill
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Department of Psychology
| | - David C M Liewald
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Department of Psychology
| | - Stuart J Ritchie
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Department of Psychology
| | - Riccardo E Marioni
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Medical Genetics Section, University of Edinburgh Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine and MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Edinburgh, UK.,Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | - Cathie L M Sudlow
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Medical Genetics Section, University of Edinburgh Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine and MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Joanna M Wardlaw
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Catharine R Gale
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Department of Psychology.,MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Ian J Deary
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Department of Psychology
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Wedow R, Briley DA, Short SE, Boardman JD. Gender and genetic contributions to weight identity among adolescents and young adults in the U.S. Soc Sci Med 2016; 165:99-107. [PMID: 27500942 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.07.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2016] [Revised: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 07/31/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
In this paper, we investigate the possibility that genetic variation contributes to self-perceived weight status among adolescents and young adults in the U.S. Using samples of identical and fraternal twins across four waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) study, we calculate heritability estimates for objective body mass index (BMI) that are in line with previous estimates. We also show that perceived weight status is heritable (h(2) ∼ 0.47) and most importantly that this trait continues to be heritable above and beyond objective BMI (h(2) ∼ 0.25). We then demonstrate significant sex differences in the heritability of weight identity across the four waves of the study, where h(2)women = 0.39, 0.35, 0.40, and 0.50 for each wave, respectively, and h(2)men = 0.10, 0.10, 0.23, and 0.03. These results call for a deeper consideration of both identity and gender in genetics research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robbee Wedow
- Department of Sociology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA; Health and Society Program and Population Program, Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA; Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA.
| | - Daniel A Briley
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
| | - Susan E Short
- Department of Sociology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA; Population Studies & Training Center, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Jason D Boardman
- Department of Sociology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA; Health and Society Program and Population Program, Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA; Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Franz CE, Finkel D, Panizzon MS, Spoon K, Christensen K, Gatz M, Kremen WS, Krueger R, Neiderhiser J, Reynolds C, Pedersen NL. Facets of Subjective Health From Early Adulthood to Old Age. J Aging Health 2016; 29:149-171. [PMID: 26832851 DOI: 10.1177/0898264315625488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Subjective health is a complex indicator predicting longevity independent of objective health. Few studies examine genetic and environmental mechanisms underlying different facets of subjective health across the life course. METHOD Three subjective health measures were examined in 12,900 twins ( Mage = 63.38, range = 25-102) from nine studies in the Interplay of Genes and Environment across Multiple Studies Consortium: self-rated health (SRH), health compared with others (COMP), and health interfering with activities (ACT). RESULTS Analyses indicated age and sex differences in mean scores depending on the measure. SRH and ACT showed significant linear and non-linear moderation by age for individual differences in both genetic and environmental variance. Significant sex differences in components of variance were found for SRH and ACT, but not COMP. DISCUSSION Subjective health appears to be dependent on frame of reference and reflect different aspects of health. Results suggest different genetic and environmental mechanisms underlie each facet.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carol E Franz
- 1 University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, USA
| | | | | | - Kelly Spoon
- 1 University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, USA
| | | | - Margaret Gatz
- 4 University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Associations Between Fetal Growth and Self-Perceived Health Throughout Adulthood: A Co-twin Control Study. Behav Genet 2016; 46:457-66. [PMID: 26725048 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-015-9776-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The literature shows evidence for long-lasting effects of low birth weight (LBW) on many health outcomes, but little is known about effects on self-perceived health. Findings are mixed and studies are small, mostly focusing on LBW effects on health outcomes before adulthood. Further, as LBW and most health conditions including self-perceived health are partly heritable, associations between birth weight (BW) and adverse health outcomes may also be due to shared genetic as well as other (pre- and postnatal) unmeasured environmental influences. We explored LBW effects on self-perceived health in early and later adulthood using a very large and genetically informative sample of more than 50,000 Swedish twins. In addition, analyses within twin pairs (the co-twin control design) were used to examine potential associations between BW and the offspring's risk for poor self-perceived health independent of shared environmental or genetic factors, evidence which is critical for the understanding of underlying mechanisms. Results showed that lower BW was significantly associated with poorer self-perceived health during adulthood, although the effect size was small. Co-twin control analyses suggested that this increased risk may be due to shared underlying liability (environmental or genetic) rather than a direct effect of BW, but findings were not conclusive.
Collapse
|
12
|
Causes of individual differences in adolescent optimism: a study in Dutch twins and their siblings. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2015; 24:1381-8. [PMID: 25638288 PMCID: PMC4628618 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-015-0680-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2014] [Accepted: 01/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the degree to which genetic and environmental influences affect variation in adolescent optimism. Optimism (3 items and 6 items approach) and pessimism were assessed by the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R) in 5,187 adolescent twins and 999 of their non-twin siblings from the Netherlands Twin Register (NTR). Males reported significantly higher optimism scores than females, while females score higher on pessimism. Genetic structural equation modeling revealed that about one-third of the variance in optimism and pessimism was due to additive genetic effects, with the remaining variance being explained by non-shared environmental effects. A bivariate correlated factor model revealed two dimensions with a genetic correlation of -.57 (CI -.67, -.47), while the non-shared environmental correlation was estimated to be -.21 (CI -.25, -.16). Neither an effect of shared environment, non-additive genetic influences, nor quantitative sex differences was found for both dimensions. This result indicates that individual differences in adolescent optimism are mainly accounted for by non-shared environmental factors. These environmental factors do not contribute to the similarity of family members, but to differences between them. Familial resemblance in optimism and pessimism assessed in adolescents is fully accounted for by genetic overlap between family members.
Collapse
|
13
|
Carver CS, Scheier MF. Dispositional optimism. Trends Cogn Sci 2014; 18:293-9. [PMID: 24630971 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2014.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 363] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2013] [Revised: 02/04/2014] [Accepted: 02/05/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Optimism is a cognitive construct (expectancies regarding future outcomes) that also relates to motivation: optimistic people exert effort, whereas pessimistic people disengage from effort. Study of optimism began largely in health contexts, finding positive associations between optimism and markers of better psychological and physical health. Physical health effects likely occur through differences in both health-promoting behaviors and physiological concomitants of coping. Recently, the scientific study of optimism has extended to the realm of social relations: new evidence indicates that optimists have better social connections, partly because they work harder at them. In this review, we examine the myriad ways this trait can benefit an individual, and our current understanding of the biological basis of optimism.
Collapse
|
14
|
Heritability of health-related quality of life: SF-12 summary scores in a population-based nationwide twin cohort. Twin Res Hum Genet 2013; 16:670-8. [PMID: 23561268 DOI: 10.1017/thg.2013.21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
AIM The present study aims to estimate the relative importance of genetic and environmental factors for health-related quality of life (HRQL) measured by the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12). METHODS The study was based on two Danish twin cohorts (46,417 twin individuals) originating from the nationwide, population-based Danish Twin Registry. The twins were approached by a mailed-out questionnaire in 2002. The questionnaire included the SF-12, information on demographic factors, and questions on a variety of specific diseases. Heritability of the SF-12 includes the physical component summary (PCS) and the mental component summary (MCS); and etiologically important variance components were estimated using multivariate biometric models. The respondents were stratified into six groups, based on age and sex. RESULTS A total of 33,794 (73%) individual twins responded to the survey. The SF-12 was completed by 29,619 individuals, which included 9,120 complete twin pairs. Overall, the best-fitting model explaining the variance of HRQL was the ACE model. The estimated heritability of the SF-12 was between 11% and 35%, whereas between 65% and 89% could be explained by unique environmental or stochastic factors in the different sex and age groups. The highest heritability was seen among older twins. In addition, the genetic correlation between MCS and PCS scores was low (0.07 and 0.23 for males and females, respectively) among younger and high (0.26 and 0.45 for males and females, respectively) in the oldest age group. Both the largest genetic influence on HRQL and the largest genetic overlap between the scores were seen in the oldest age group, which consisted of twins older than 55. The unique environmental correlation between MCS and PCS were generally negative. CONCLUSION The heritability of HRQL differs between different age groups. In general, most of the variance in the SF-12 summary components was determined by unique environmental factors.
Collapse
|
15
|
Mosing MA, Pedersen NL, Cesarini D, Johannesson M, Magnusson PKE, Nakamura J, Madison G, Ullén F. Genetic and environmental influences on the relationship between flow proneness, locus of control and behavioral inhibition. PLoS One 2012; 7:e47958. [PMID: 23133606 PMCID: PMC3487896 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0047958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2012] [Accepted: 09/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Flow is a psychological state of high but subjectively effortless attention that typically occurs during active performance of challenging tasks and is accompanied by a sense of automaticity, high control, low self-awareness, and enjoyment. Flow proneness is associated with traits and behaviors related to low neuroticism such as emotional stability, conscientiousness, active coping, self-esteem and life satisfaction. Little is known about the genetic architecture of flow proneness, behavioral inhibition and locus of control--traits also associated with neuroticism--and their interrelation. Here, we hypothesized that individuals low in behavioral inhibition and with an internal locus of control would be more likely to experience flow and explored the genetic and environmental architecture of the relationship between the three variables. Behavioral inhibition and locus of control was measured in a large population sample of 3,375 full twin pairs and 4,527 single twins, about 26% of whom also scored the flow proneness questionnaire. Findings revealed significant but relatively low correlations between the three traits and moderate heritability estimates of .41, .45, and .30 for flow proneness, behavioral inhibition, and locus of control, respectively, with some indication of non-additive genetic influences. For behavioral inhibition we found significant sex differences in heritability, with females showing a higher estimate including significant non-additive genetic influences, while in males the entire heritability was due to additive genetic variance. We also found a mainly genetically mediated relationship between the three traits, suggesting that individuals who are genetically predisposed to experience flow, show less behavioral inhibition (less anxious) and feel that they are in control of their own destiny (internal locus of control). We discuss that some of the genes underlying this relationship may include those influencing the function of dopaminergic neural systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miriam A Mosing
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Dato S, Montesanto A, Lagani V, Jeune B, Christensen K, Passarino G. Frailty phenotypes in the elderly based on cluster analysis: a longitudinal study of two Danish cohorts. Evidence for a genetic influence on frailty. AGE (DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS) 2012; 34:571-82. [PMID: 21567248 PMCID: PMC3337941 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-011-9257-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2011] [Accepted: 04/17/2011] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Frailty is a physiological state characterized by the deregulation of multiple physiologic systems of an aging organism determining the loss of homeostatic capacity, which exposes the elderly to disability, diseases, and finally death. An operative definition of frailty, useful for the classification of the individual quality of aging, is needed. On the other hand, the documented heterogeneity in the quality of aging among different geographic areas suggests the necessity for a frailty classification approach providing population-specific results. Moreover, the contribution of the individual genetic background on the frailty status is still questioned. We investigated the applicability of a cluster analysis approach based on specific geriatric parameters, previously set up and validated in a southern Italian population, to two large longitudinal Danish samples. In both cohorts, we identified groups of subjects homogeneous for their frailty status and characterized by different survival patterns. A subsequent survival analysis availing of Accelerated Failure Time models allowed us to formulate an operative index able to correlate classification variables with survival probability. From these models, we quantified the differential effect of various parameters on survival, and we estimated the heritability of the frailty phenotype by exploiting the twin pairs in our sample. These data suggest the presence of a genetic influence on the frailty variability and indicate that cluster analysis can define specific frailty phenotypes in each population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Serena Dato
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Calabria, Ponte Pietro Bucci cubo 4 C, 87036 Rende, CS Italy
- The Danish Aging Research Center, Epidemiology, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winslows Vej 9B, 5000 Odense C, Denmark
| | - Alberto Montesanto
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Calabria, Ponte Pietro Bucci cubo 4 C, 87036 Rende, CS Italy
| | - Vincenzo Lagani
- Bio Informatics Laboratory, Institute of Computer Science, Foundation for Research and Technology (Hellas), Heraklion, Greece
| | - Bernard Jeune
- The Danish Aging Research Center, Epidemiology, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winslows Vej 9B, 5000 Odense C, Denmark
| | - Kaare Christensen
- The Danish Aging Research Center, Epidemiology, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winslows Vej 9B, 5000 Odense C, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Odense University Hospital, Sdr Boulevard 29, 5000 Odense C, Denmark
| | - Giuseppe Passarino
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Calabria, Ponte Pietro Bucci cubo 4 C, 87036 Rende, CS Italy
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Genetic and environmental multidimensionality of well- and ill-being in middle aged twin men. Behav Genet 2012; 42:579-91. [PMID: 22484556 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-012-9538-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2011] [Accepted: 03/15/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
The goals of the study were to determine the extent to which the underlying structure of different types of well-being was multidimensional and whether well- and ill-being were influenced by similar or different genetic and environmental factors. Participants were 1226 male twins ages 51-60, from the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging. Measures included: psychological well-being, Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire Well-Being scale (MPQWB), life satisfaction, self-esteem, and depressive symptoms. A two-orthogonal-factor common pathway model fit the data well. Psychological well-being and self-esteem loaded most strongly on Factor 1, which was highly heritable (h(2) = .79). Life satisfaction loaded most strongly on Factor 2, which was only moderately heritable (h(2) = .32). Only MPQWB had measure-specific genetic influences. Depressive symptoms loaded on both factors, and only depressive symptoms had measure-specific common environmental influences. All measures had specific unique environmental influences. Results indicate that well-being is genetically and environmentally multidimensional and that ill-being has partial overlap with both latent factors.
Collapse
|
18
|
Sadler ME, Miller CJ, Christensen K, McGue M. Subjective wellbeing and longevity: a co-twin control study. Twin Res Hum Genet 2012; 14:249-56. [PMID: 21623655 DOI: 10.1375/twin.14.3.249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Mental health is increasingly defined not only by the absence of illness but by the presence of subjective well-being (SWB). Previous cohort studies have consistently shown that indicators of SWB predict favorable life outcomes, including better mental and somatic health, and longevity. The favorable effects associated with SWB have prompted new research aimed at raising happiness and wellbeing through individual interventions and public health initiatives. Standard observational studies of individual-level associations, however, are subject to potential confounding of exposure and outcome by shared genes and environment. The present study explored the association between SWB and increased longevity, using twin pair analyses to determine whether the association is consistent with causality or is due to genetic or environmental confounding. The study sample of 3,966 twins aged 70 or older, followed for a median time period of 9 years, was drawn from the population-based Longitudinal Study of Aging Danish Twins (LSADT). The association between SWB, operationalized as affect and life satisfaction, and all-cause mortality risk was examined using between-individual and within-pair survival analyses. As expected, at the individual level, SWB predicted increased longevity. Exposure effects were also present in unadjusted and adjusted within-pair analyses of 400 dizygotic (DZ) pairs and 274 monozygotic (MZ) pairs, indicating that SWB is associated with increased longevity independent of familial factors of genes and shared environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael E Sadler
- Department of Psychology, Roosevelt University, United States of America.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Murberg TA. The Influence of Optimistic Expectations and Negative Life Events on Somatic Symptoms among Adolescents: A One-Year Prospective Study. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.4236/psych.2012.32018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
|