scholarly journals Interrogating the validity of cumulative indices of environmental and genetic risk for negative developmental outcomes

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Keith F. Widaman
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Statistical Modeling ◽  
Environmental Risk ◽  
Genetic Risk ◽  
Family Relations ◽  
Cumulative Risk ◽  
Developmental Outcomes ◽  
Verbal Iq ◽  
Risk Indices ◽  
Close Family

Abstract Indices of cumulative risk (CR) have long been used in developmental research to encode the number of risk factors a child or adolescent experiences that may impede optimal developmental outcomes. Initial contributions concentrated on indices of cumulative environmental risk; more recently, indices of cumulative genetic risk have been employed. In this article, regression analytic methods are proposed for interrogating strongly the validity of risk indices by testing optimality of compositing weights, enabling more informative modeling of effects of CR indices. Reanalyses of data from two studies are reported. One study involved 10 environmental risk factors predicting Verbal IQ in 215 four-year-old children. The second study included an index of genetic CR in a G×E interaction investigation of 281 target participants assessed at age 15 years and then again at age 31 years for observed hostility during videotaped interactions with close family relations. Principles to guide evaluation of results of statistical modeling are presented, and implications of results for research and theory are discussed. The ultimate goals of this paper are to develop stronger tests of conjectures involving CR indices and to promote methods for improving replicability of results across studies.

scholarly journals A Swedish national adoption study of criminality

2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (9) ◽  
pp. 1913-1925 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. S. Kendler ◽  
S. Larsson Lönn ◽  
N. A. Morris ◽  
J. Sundquist ◽  
N. Långström ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Environmental Risk ◽  
Genetic Risk ◽  
Criminal Behavior ◽  
Risk Index ◽  
Genetic Risk Factors ◽  
Medical Illness ◽  
Adoption Study ◽  
Biological Parents ◽  
History Of

BackgroundTo clarify the role of genetic and environmental factors in criminal behavior (CB), we examined all CB and violent and non-violent subtypes (VCB and NVCB, respectively) in a Swedish national sample of adoptees and their relatives.MethodCB was defined by a conviction in the Swedish Crime Register with standard definitions for VCB and NVCB subtypes. We examined adoptees born 1950–1991 (n = 18 070) and their biological (n = 79 206) and adoptive (n = 47 311) relatives.ResultsThe risk for all CB was significantly elevated in the adopted-away offspring of biological parents of which at least one had CB [odds ratio (OR) 1.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4–1.6] and in the biological full and half-siblings of CB adoptees (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.2–1.6 and OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.2–1.3, respectively). A genetic risk index (including biological parental/sibling history of CB and alcohol abuse) and an environmental risk index (including adoptive parental and sibling CB and a history of adoptive parental divorce, death, and medical illness) both strongly predicted probability of CB. These genetic and environmental risk indices acted additively on adoptee risk for CB. Moderate specificity was seen in the transmission of genetic risk for VCB and NVCB between biological parents and siblings and adoptees.ConclusionsCB is etiologically complex and influenced by a range of genetic risk factors including a specific liability to CB and a vulnerability to broader externalizing behaviors, and by features of the adoptive environment including parental CB, divorce and death. Genetic risk factors for VCB and NVCB may be at least partially distinct.

Multivariate genetic analysis of the causes of temperance board registrations

1998 ◽  
Vol 172 (3) ◽  
pp. 268-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth S. Kendler ◽  
Laura M. Karkowski ◽  
Carol A. Prescott ◽  
Michael C. Neale ◽  
Nancy L. Pedersen
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Environmental Risk ◽  
Genetic Risk ◽  
Genetic Risk Factors ◽  
Environmental Risk Factors ◽  
Driving Under The Influence ◽  
Multivariate Genetic Analysis ◽  
Best Fitting ◽  
Alcohol Related Problems ◽  
Fitting Model

BackgroundThe Temperance Boards in Sweden registered individuals for three reasons: public drunkenness, driving under the influence of alcohol and committing a crime in connection with alcohol. We wanted to ascertain whether these three forms of alcohol-related problems result from similar or different genetic and environmental risk factors.MethodWe conducted a trivariate twin analysis of these three causes of registration in all male-female twin pairs of known zygosity born in Sweden, 1926–1949 (n=5177 twin pairs).ResultsPrevalences of registration for public drunkenness, drink-driving and alcohol-related crime were, respectively, 9.0, 3.6 and 4.0%. The best-fitting model had one general genetic and one general familial – environmental factor with specific genetic risk factors for drink-driving and specific familial – environmental risk factors for alcohol-related crime.ConclusionsThe three causes for alcohol registration in Sweden largely reflect the same genetic and environmental risk factors. Estimated heritabilities were similar for the three forms of registration. However, specific genetic risk factors exist for drink-driving and specific familial – environmental risk factors for alcohol-related crime. Genetic factors are somewhat less important and familial –environmental factors more important for public drunkenness than for drink-driving and alcohol related crime.

scholarly journals The Relationship Between the Genetic and Environmental Influences on Common Externalizing Psychopathology and Mental Wellbeing

2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 516-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth S. Kendler ◽  
John M. Myers ◽  
Corey L. M. Keyes
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Environmental Risk ◽  
Genetic Risk ◽  
Genetic Risk Factors ◽  
Environmental Risk Factors ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Negatively Associated ◽  
Externalizing Psychopathology ◽  
Internalizing Psychopathology ◽  
The Relationship

To determine the relationship between the genetic and environmental risk factors for externalizing psychopathology and mental wellbeing, we examined detailed measures of emotional, social and psychological wellbeing, and a history of alcohol-related problems and smoking behavior in the last year in 1,386 individual twins from same-sex pairs from the MIDUS national US sample assessed in 1995. Cholesky decomposition analyses were performed withthe Mx program. The best fit model contained one highly heritable common externalizing psychopathology factor for both substance use/abuse measures, and one strongly heritable common factor for the three wellbeing measures. Genetic and environmental risk factors for externalizing psychopathology were both negatively associated with levels of mental wellbeing and accounted for, respectively, 7% and 21% of its genetic and environmental influences. Adding internalizing psychopathology assessed in the last year to the model, genetic risk factors unique for externalizing psychopathology were now positively related to levels of mental wellbeing, although accounting for only 5% of the genetic variance. Environmental risk factors unique to externalizing psychopathology continued to be negatively associated with mental wellbeing, accounting for 26% of the environmental variance. When both internalizing psychopathology and externalizing psychopathology are associated with mental wellbeing, the strongest risk factors for low mental wellbeing are genetic factors that impact on both internalizing psychopathology and externalizing psychopathology, and environmental factors unique to externalizing psychopathology. In this model, genetic risk factors for externalizing psychopathology predict, albeit weakly, higher levels of mental wellbeing.

Genetic and environmental risk factors in males for self-report externalizing traits in mid-adolescence and criminal behavior through young adulthood

2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (10) ◽  
pp. 2161-2168 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. S. Kendler ◽  
C. J. Patrick ◽  
H. Larsson ◽  
C. O. Gardner ◽  
P. Lichtenstein
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Environmental Risk ◽  
Genetic Risk ◽  
Criminal Behavior ◽  
Environmental Risk Factors ◽  
Environmental Risks ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Equation Modeling

BackgroundExternalizing traits or behaviors are typically assessed by self-report scales or criminal records. Few genetically informative studies have used both methods to determine whether they assess the same genetic or environmental risk factors.MethodWe examined 442 male Swedish twin pairs with self-reported externalizing behaviors at age 16–17 years [externalizing traits (EXT), self-reported delinquency (SRD), impulsivity (IMP), grandiosity (GRD) and callousness (CLS)] and criminal behavior (CB) from the National Suspect Registry from age 13 to 25 years. Multivariate structural equation modeling was conducted with Mx.ResultsThe best-fit model contained one genetic, one shared environmental and two non-shared environmental common factors, and variable specific genetic and non-shared environmental factors. The risk for CB was influenced substantially by both genetic (a2 = 0.48) and familial–environmental factors (c2 = 0.22). About one-third of the genetic risk for CB but all of the shared environmental risk was indexed by the self-report measures. The degree to which the individual measures reflected genetic versus familial–environmental risks for CB varied widely. GRD and CLS were correlated with CB mainly through common genetic risk factors. SRD and CB covaried largely because of shared familial–environmental factors. For EXT and IMP, observed correlations with CB resulted in about equal parts from shared genetic and shared familial–environmental factors.ConclusionsIn adolescence, measures of grandiose and callous temperament best tap the genetic liability to CB. Measures of antisocial behaviors better index familial–environmental risks for CB. A substantial proportion of the genetic risk to CB was not well reflected in any of the self-report measures.

Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors for Keratoconus

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sionne E.M. Lucas ◽  
Kathryn P. Burdon
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Environmental Risk ◽  
Complex Disease ◽  
Association Studies ◽  
Corneal Thickness ◽  
Cumulative Risk ◽  
Environmental Risk Factors ◽  
Genome Wide Association Studies ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Exact Etiology

Keratoconus, a progressive corneal ectasia, is a complex disease with both genetic and environmental risk factors. The exact etiology is not known and is likely variable between individuals. Conditions such as hay fever and allergy are associated with increased risk, while diabetes may be protective. Behaviors such as eye rubbing are also implicated, but direct causality has not been proven. Genetics plays a major role in risk for some individuals, with many large pedigrees showing autosomal inheritance patterns. Several genes have been implicated using linkage and follow-up sequencing in these families. Genome-wide association studies for keratoconus and for quantitative traits such as central corneal thickness have identified several genetic loci that contribute to a cumulative risk for keratoconus, even in people without a family history of the disease. Identification of risk genes for keratoconus is improving our understanding of the biology of this complex disease.

scholarly journals Testing the specificity of environmental risk factors for developmental outcomes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giacomo Bignardi ◽  
Edwin S. Dalmaijer ◽  
Duncan Astle
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Environmental Risk ◽  
Developmental Outcomes ◽  
Tobacco Consumption ◽  
Environmental Risk Factors ◽  
Environmental Risks ◽  
Developmental Theories ◽  
Behavior Outcomes ◽  
Uk Millennium Cohort Study ◽  
The Uk

Developmental theories often assume that specific kinds of environmental risks lead to specific outcomes. Canonical Correlation Analysis was used to test whether 28 developmental outcomes (measured at 11-15 years) share the same early environmental risk factors (measured at 0-3 years), or whether specific outcomes are associated with specific risks. Data from the UK Millennium Cohort Study (N = 10,376, 51% Female, 84% White) were used. A single environment component was mostly sufficient for explaining cognition and parent-rated behavior outcomes. In contrast, adolescents’ alcohol and tobacco consumption were specifically associated with their parents’, and child-rated mental health was weakly associated with all risks. These findings suggest that with some exceptions, many different developmental outcomes share the same early environmental risk factors.

scholarly journals Interactions of established risk factors and a GWAS-based genetic risk score on the risk of venous thromboembolism

2016 ◽  
Vol 116 (10) ◽  
pp. 705-713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Crous-Bou ◽  
Immaculata De Vivo ◽  
Carlos A. Camargo ◽  
Raphaëlle Varraso ◽  
Francine Grodstein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Venous Thromboembolism ◽  
Risk Score ◽  
Environmental Risk ◽  
Genetic Risk ◽  
Genetic Risk Score ◽  
Environmental Risk Factors ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Targeted Prevention ◽  
Genome Wide

SummaryMultiple genetic and environmental risk factors contribute to venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk. Understanding how genes and environmental risk factors interact may provide key insight into the pathophysiology of VTE and may identify opportunities for targeted prevention and treatment. It was our aim to examine the main effects and the potential effect-modification between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at established loci and lifestyle risk factors for VTE. We performed a nested case-control study using data on 1,040 incident VTE cases and 16,936 controls from the Nurses’ Health Study, Nurses’ Health Study II, and Health Professionals Follow-up Study cohorts, who gave blood, were selected as participants in a previous genome-wide association study (GWAS), and completed a biennial questionnaire at time of blood draw. We selected SNPs that were associated with VTE risk in previous GWAS studies. A genetic risk score (GRS) was constructed to evaluate the combined effect of the 16 SNPs that have reached genome-wide significance in previous GWAS of VTE. Interactions between SNPs and VTE risk factors (BMI and smoking) were also assessed. We found a significant association between our GRS and VTE risk. The risk of VTE among individuals in the highest GRS tertile was 2.02 times that of individuals in the lowest GRS tertile (p-trend = 9.69x10-19). The OR was 1.52 (p=1.03x10-8) for participants in the highest GRS tertile compared to those in the medium GRS tertile. However, while BMI and smoking were associated with VTE, and their effects were additive to each other we did not observe any significant multiplicative gene-environment interactions.Supplementary Material to this article is available online at www.thrombosis-online.com.

scholarly journals Continuity of genetic and environmental influences on clinically assessed major depression from ages 18 to 45

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (15) ◽  
pp. 2582-2590
Author(s):  
Fartein Ask Torvik ◽  
Kristin Gustavson ◽  
Eivind Ystrom ◽  
Tom H. Rosenström ◽  
Nathan Gillespie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Environmental Risk ◽  
Genetic Risk ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Environmental Risk Factors ◽  
Shared Environment ◽  
Term Stability ◽  
Long Term Stability

AbstractBackgroundStudies on the stability of genetic risk for depression have relied on self-reported symptoms rather than diagnoses and/or short follow-up time. Our aim is to determine to what degree genetic and environmental influences on clinically assessed major depressive disorder (MDD) are stable between age 18 and 45.MethodsA population-based sample of 11 727 twins (6875 women) born between 1967 and 1991 was followed from 2006 to 2015 in health registry data from primary care that included diagnoses provided by treating physicians. Individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (n = 163) were excluded. We modelled genetic and environmental risk factors for MDD in an accelerated longitudinal design.ResultsThe best-fitting model indicated that genetic influences on MDD were completely stable from ages 18 to 45 and explained 38% of the variance. At each age, the environmental risk of MDD was determined by the risk at the preceding observation, plus new environmental risk, with an environmental correlation of +0.60 over 2 years. The model indicated no effects of shared environment and no environmental effects stable throughout the observational period. All long-term stability was therefore explained by genetic factors.ConclusionsDifferent processes unfolded in the genetic and environmental risk for MDD. The genetic component is stable from later adolescence to middle adulthood and accounted for nearly all long-term stability. Therefore, molecular genetic studies can use age-heterogenous samples when investigating genetic risk variants of MDD. Environmental risk factors were stable over a short span of years with associations rapidly decreasing and no evidence of permanent environmental scarring.

Genetic and environmental risk factors for depression assessed by subject-rated Symptom Check List versus Structured Clinical Interview

2001 ◽  
Vol 31 (8) ◽  
pp. 1413-1423 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. FOLEY ◽  
M. C. NEALE ◽  
K. S. KENDLER
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Major Depression ◽  
Environmental Risk ◽  
Genetic Risk ◽  
Genetic Risk Factors ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Check List ◽  
Lifetime History ◽  
History Of ◽  
Symptom Check List

Background. It is not known if a subject's characteristic level of self-rated depression symptoms index their genetic or environmental liability to major depressive disorder when measurement error and other occasion-specific influences are taken into account.Method. Monozygotic (N = 408) and dizygotic (N = 295) adult female twin pairs from a population-based registry were surveyed twice with an average follow-up interval of 61 months. At each occasion subjects completed a structured clinical interview (SCID) to assess lifetime history of major depression and the subject-rated Symptom Check List (SCL) to assess current level of depressive symptomatology. A bivariate measurement model was used to estimate the genetic and environmental correlations between liability to reliably diagnosed lifetime history of major depression and the characteristic or temporally stable SCL depression score.Results. The genetic and non-familial environmental correlation between liability to reliably diagnosed major depression and the characteristic level of SCL depression symptoms (and the proportion of variance shared between measures) is +0·70 and +0·24 respectively.Conclusions. When allowance is made for diagnostic unreliability and temporal fluctuations in the level of subject-rated symptoms, 70% of the variance in genetic risk factors and 24% of the variance in environmental risk factors is shared by a diagnosis of lifetime major depression and total SCL depression symptom score. SCL depression scores may therefore be a useful screening measure for many of the genetic risk factors which influence liability to major depression.

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