scholarly journals Replication of a Gene–Environment Interaction Via Multimodel Inference: Additive-Genetic Variance in Adolescents’ General Cognitive Ability Increases with Family-of-Origin Socioeconomic Status

2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 200-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M. Kirkpatrick ◽  
Matt McGue ◽  
William G. Iacono
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Family Of Origin ◽  
Genetic Variance ◽  
Additive Genetic Variance ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
General Cognitive Ability ◽  
Multimodel Inference ◽  
Gene Environment Interaction ◽  
Gene Environment

scholarly journals Neighborhood deprivation and depression in adult twins: genetics and gene×environment interaction

2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 627-638 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Strachan ◽  
G. Duncan ◽  
E. Horn ◽  
E. Turkheimer
Keyword(s):  
Additive Genetic Variance ◽  
Monozygotic Twin ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Environmental Variance ◽  
Neighborhood Deprivation ◽  
Gene Environment Interaction ◽  
Gene Environment ◽  
Underlying Causes ◽  
Adult Twins

BackgroundDepression is a significant problem and it is vital to understand its underlying causes and related policy implications. Neighborhood characteristics are implicated in depression but the nature of this association is unclear. Unobserved or unmeasured factors may confound the relationship. This study addresses confounding in a twin study investigating neighborhood-level effects on depression controlling for genetics, common environment, and gene×environment (G × E) interactions.MethodData on neighborhood deprivation and depression were gathered from 3155 monozygotic twin pairs and 1275 dizygotic pairs (65.7% female) between 2006 and 2013. The variance for both depression and neighborhood deprivation was decomposed into three components: additive genetic variance (A); shared environmental variance (C); and non-shared environmental variance (E). Depression was then regressed on neighborhood deprivation to test the direct association and whether that association was confounded. We also tested for a G × E interaction in which the heritability of depression was modified by the level of neighborhood deprivation.ResultsDepression and neighborhood deprivation showed evidence of significant A (21.8% and 15.9%, respectively) and C (13.9% and 32.7%, respectively) variance. Depression increased with increasing neighborhood deprivation across all twins (p = 0.009), but this regression was not significant after controlling for A and C variance common to both phenotypes (p = 0.615). The G × E model showed genetic influences on depression increasing with increasing neighborhood deprivation (p < 0.001).ConclusionsNeighborhood deprivation is an important contributor to depression via increasing the genetic risk. Modifiable pathways that link neighborhoods to depression have been proposed and should serve as targets for intervention and research.

The Effect of Prenatal Valproate Exposure in Serotonin Transporter Knockout Rats On Anxiety and Cognition: A Gene*Environment Interaction Model of Autism Spectrum Disorder

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Caren L. August
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Serotonin Transporter ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Gene Environment Interaction ◽  
Gene Environment ◽  
Starting Point

<p>Autism Spectrum Disorder is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder which is often associated with increased anxiety and deficits in cognitive ability. The present research investigated a potential gene*environment interaction between two factors previously implicated in ASD in a rat model; prenatal exposure to valproate (VPA) and genetic reduction of the serotonin transporter (SERT). Wildtype and heterozygous SERT knockout rats prenatally exposed to VPA or saline on gestational day12.5 (G12.5) were assessed on measures of anxiety: elevated plus-maze and novelty suppressed-feeding and cognitive ability: prepulse inhibition and latent inhibition. A significant main effect was found for VPA exposure in all paradigms, showing increased anxiety-typical behaviour and abnormal cognitive ability. However, no significant effect of genotype or interaction was observed. Results from the present study do not confirm gene*environment interaction between prenatal VPA and heterozygous SERT knockout but this may be due to several factors that are discussed within the thesis. In any case, this study represents a starting point for further studies investigating other combinations of genetic and environmental factors as models of ASD pathogenesis.</p>

scholarly journals The impact of environmental interventions among mouse siblings on the heritability and malleability of general cognitive ability

2018 ◽  
Vol 373 (1756) ◽  
pp. 20170289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Sauce ◽  
Sophie Bendrath ◽  
Margalit Herzfeld ◽  
Dan Siegel ◽  
Conner Style ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
General Cognitive Ability ◽  
Environmental Variance ◽  
Apparent Paradox ◽  
Gene Environment ◽  
The Impact

General cognitive ability can be highly heritable in some species, but at the same time, is very malleable. This apparent paradox could potentially be explained by gene–environment interactions and correlations that remain hidden due to experimental limitations on human research and blind spots in animal research. Here, we shed light on this issue by combining the design of a sibling study with an environmental intervention administered to laboratory mice. The analysis included 58 litters of four full-sibling genetically heterogeneous CD-1 male mice, for a total of 232 mice. We separated the mice into two subsets of siblings: a control group (maintained in standard laboratory conditions) and an environmental-enrichment group (which had access to continuous physical exercise and daily exposure to novel environments). We found that general cognitive ability in mice has substantial heritability (24% for all mice) and is also malleable. The mice that experienced the enriched environment had a mean intelligence score that was 0.44 standard deviations higher than their siblings in the control group (equivalent to gains of 6.6 IQ points in humans). We also found that the estimate of heritability changed between groups (55% in the control group compared with non-significant 15% in the enrichment group), analogous to findings in humans across socio-economic status. Unexpectedly, no evidence of gene–environment interaction was detected, and so the change in heritability might be best explained by higher environmental variance in the enrichment group. Our findings, as well as the ‘sibling intervention procedure’ for mice, may be valuable to future research on the heritability, mechanisms and evolution of cognition. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Causes and consequences of individual differences in cognitive abilities’.

scholarly journals Effects of Gene-Environment Interaction on Obesity among Chinese Adults Born in the Early 1960s

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 270
Author(s):  
Weiyan Gong ◽  
Hui Li ◽  
Chao Song ◽  
Fan Yuan ◽  
Yanning Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Waist Circumference ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Central Obesity ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Sedentary Behaviors ◽  
Chinese Adults ◽  
Gene Environment Interaction ◽  
Gene Environment ◽  
Fto Rs9939609

The prevalence of obesity has been increasing sharply and has become a serious public health problem worldwide. Gene–environment interaction in obesity is a relatively new field, and little is known about it in Chinese adults. This study aimed to provide the effects of gene–environment interaction on obesity among Chinese adults. A stratified multistage cluster sampling method was conducted to recruit participants from 150 surveillance sites. Subjects born in 1960, 1961 and 1963 were selected. An exploratory factor analysis was used to classify the environmental factors. The interaction of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and environmental factors on body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were analyzed using a general linear model. A multiple logistic regression model combined with an additive model was performed to analyze the interaction between SNPs and environmental factors in obesity and central obesity. A total of 2216 subjects were included in the study (mean age, 49.7 years; male, 39.7%, female, 60.3%). Engaging in physical activity (PA) could reduce the effect of MC4R rs12970134 on BMI (β = −0.16kg/m2, p = 0.030), and also reduce the effect of TRHR rs7832552 and BCL2 rs12454712 on waist circumference (WC). Sedentary behaviors increased the effects of SNPs on BMI and WC, and simultaneously increased the effects of FTO rs9939609 and FTO rs8050136 on obesity and central obesity. A higher socioeconomic status aggravated the influence of SNPs (including FTO rs9939609, BNDF rs11030104, etc.) on BMI and WC, and aggravated the influence of SEC16B rs574367 on central obesity. The MC4R rs12970134 association with BMI and the FTO rs8050136 association with central obesity appeared to be more pronounced with higher energy intake (β = 0.140 kg/m2, p = 0.049; OR = 1.77, p = 0.004, respectively). Engaging in PA could reduce the effects of SNPs on BMI and WC; nevertheless, a higher socioeconomic status, higher dietary energy intake and sedentary behaviors accentuated the influences of SNPs on BMI, WC, obesity and central obesity. Preventative measures for obesity should consider addressing the gene–environment interaction.

scholarly journals Alcohol consumption and lifetime change in cognitive ability: a gene × environment interaction study

AGE ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart J. Ritchie ◽  
Timothy C. Bates ◽  
Janie Corley ◽  
Geraldine McNeill ◽  
Gail Davies ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Interaction Study ◽  
Gene Environment Interaction ◽  
Gene Environment

The Effect of Prenatal Valproate Exposure in Serotonin Transporter Knockout Rats On Anxiety and Cognition: A Gene*Environment Interaction Model of Autism Spectrum Disorder

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Caren L. August
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Serotonin Transporter ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Gene Environment Interaction ◽  
Gene Environment ◽  
Starting Point

<p>Autism Spectrum Disorder is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder which is often associated with increased anxiety and deficits in cognitive ability. The present research investigated a potential gene*environment interaction between two factors previously implicated in ASD in a rat model; prenatal exposure to valproate (VPA) and genetic reduction of the serotonin transporter (SERT). Wildtype and heterozygous SERT knockout rats prenatally exposed to VPA or saline on gestational day12.5 (G12.5) were assessed on measures of anxiety: elevated plus-maze and novelty suppressed-feeding and cognitive ability: prepulse inhibition and latent inhibition. A significant main effect was found for VPA exposure in all paradigms, showing increased anxiety-typical behaviour and abnormal cognitive ability. However, no significant effect of genotype or interaction was observed. Results from the present study do not confirm gene*environment interaction between prenatal VPA and heterozygous SERT knockout but this may be due to several factors that are discussed within the thesis. In any case, this study represents a starting point for further studies investigating other combinations of genetic and environmental factors as models of ASD pathogenesis.</p>

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