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Gillespie NA, Bell TR, Hearn GC, Hess JL, Tsuang MT, Lyons MJ, Franz CE, Kremen WS, Glatt SJ. A twin analysis to estimate genetic and environmental factors contributing to variation in weighted gene co-expression network module eigengenes. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2024:e33003. [PMID: 39126209 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.33003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Multivariate network-based analytic methods such as weighted gene co-expression network analysis are frequently applied to human and animal gene-expression data to estimate the first principal component of a module, or module eigengene (ME). MEs are interpreted as multivariate summaries of correlated gene-expression patterns and network connectivity across genes within a module. As such, they have the potential to elucidate the mechanisms by which molecular genomic variation contributes to individual differences in complex traits. Although increasingly used to test for associations between modules and complex traits, the genetic and environmental etiology of MEs has not been empirically established. It is unclear if, and to what degree, individual differences in blood-derived MEs reflect random variation versus familial aggregation arising from heritable or shared environmental influences. We used biometrical genetic analyses to estimate the contribution of genetic and environmental influences on MEs derived from blood lymphocytes collected on a sample of N = 661 older male twins from the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging (VETSA) whose mean age at assessment was 67.7 years (SD = 2.6 years, range = 62-74 years). Of the 26 detected MEs, 14 (56%) had statistically significant additive genetic variation with an average heritability of 44% (SD = 0.08, range = 35%-64%). Despite the relatively small sample size, this demonstration of significant family aggregation including estimates of heritability in 14 of the 26 MEs suggests that blood-based MEs are reliable and merit further exploration in terms of their associations with complex traits and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan A Gillespie
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavior Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia, USA
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Tyler R Bell
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Gentry C Hearn
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jonathan L Hess
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ming T Tsuang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Michael J Lyons
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Carol E Franz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - William S Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Stephen J Glatt
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
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Schwarz C, Franz CE, Kremen WS, Vuoksimaa E. Reserve, resilience and maintenance of episodic memory and other cognitive functions in aging. Neurobiol Aging 2024; 140:60-69. [PMID: 38733869 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2024.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
We tested if cognitive and brain reserve and maintenance explain individual differences in episodic memory and other cognitive domains from late middle to early older adulthood. We used The Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging data (n=1604 men) with episodic memory measured at mean ages of 56, 62 and 68 years, and magnetic resonance imaging data for a subsample of participants (n=321). Cognitive reserve -young adult general cognitive ability at a mean age of 20 years and, to a lesser degree, educational attainment- was positively related to episodic memory performance at each assessment, but not to memory change. We found no evidence for the associations of brain reserve or brain maintenance on memory change. Results were highly similar when looking at processing speed, executive function and verbal fluency. In conclusion, higher young adult cognitive reserve was related to better episodic memory in midlife and older adulthood, but it did not confer better cognitive maintenance with respect to memory. This supports the importance of early cognitive development in dementia prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Schwarz
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Neurology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Carol E Franz
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Behavioral Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - William S Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Behavioral Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Eero Vuoksimaa
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Psychiatry and Center for Behavioral Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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Bell TR, Franz CE, Eyler LT, Fennema-Notestine C, Puckett OK, Dorros SM, Panizzon MS, Pearce RC, Hagler DJ, Lyons MJ, Beck A, Elman JA, Kremen WS. Probable chronic pain, brain structure, and Alzheimer's plasma biomarkers in older men. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2024; 25:104463. [PMID: 38199594 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2024.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Chronic pain leads to tau accumulation and hippocampal atrophy in mice. In this study, we provide one of the first assessments in humans, examining the associations of probable chronic pain with hippocampal volume, integrity of the locus coeruleus (LC)-an upstream site of tau deposition-and Alzheimer's Disease-related plasma biomarkers. Participants were mostly cognitively unimpaired men. Probable chronic pain was defined as moderate-to-severe pain in 2+ study waves at average ages 56, 62, and 68. At age 68, 424 participants underwent structural magnestic resonance imaging (MRI) of hippocampal volume and LC-sensitive MRI providing an index of LC integrity (LC contrast-to-noise ratio). Analyses adjusted for confounders including major health conditions, depressive symptoms, and opioid use. Models showed that men with probable chronic pain had smaller hippocampal volume and lower rostral-middle-but not caudal-LC contrast-to-noise ratio compared to men without probable chronic pain. Men with probable chronic pain also had higher levels of plasma total tau, beta-amyloid-42, and beta-amyloid-40 compared to men without probable chronic pain. These findings suggest that probable chronic pain is associated with tau accumulation and reduced structural brain integrity in regions affected early in the development of Alzheimer's Disease. PERSPECTIVE: Probable chronic pain was associated with plasma biomarkers and brain regions that are affected early in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Reducing pain in midlife and elucidating biological mechanisms may help to reduce the risk of AD in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler R Bell
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, California; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Carol E Franz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, California; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Lisa T Eyler
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Christine Fennema-Notestine
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, California; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California; Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Olivia K Puckett
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, California; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Stephen M Dorros
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Matthew S Panizzon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, California; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Rahul C Pearce
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, California; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Donald J Hagler
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, California; Center for Multimodal Imaging and Genetics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Michael J Lyons
- Department of Psychology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Asad Beck
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Jeremy A Elman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, California; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - William S Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, California; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
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Tang R, Buchholz E, Dale AM, Rissman RA, Fennema-Notestine C, Gillespie NA, Hagler DJ, Lyons MJ, Neale MC, Panizzon MS, Puckett OK, Reynolds CA, Franz CE, Kremen WS, Elman JA. Associations of plasma neurofilament light chain with cognition and neuroimaging measures in community-dwelling early old age men. Alzheimers Res Ther 2024; 16:90. [PMID: 38664843 PMCID: PMC11044425 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-024-01464-1] [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: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a promising biomarker of neurodegeneration with potential clinical utility in monitoring the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. However, the cross-sectional associations of plasma NfL with measures of cognition and brain have been inconsistent in community-dwelling populations. METHODS We examined these associations in a large community-dwelling sample of early old age men (N = 969, mean age = 67.57 years, range = 61-73 years), who are either cognitively unimpaired (CU) or with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Specifically, we investigated five cognitive domains (executive function, episodic memory, verbal fluency, processing speed, visual-spatial ability), as well as neuroimaging measures of gray and white matter. RESULTS After adjusting for age, health status, and young adult general cognitive ability, plasma NfL level was only significantly associated with processing speed and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume, but not with other cognitive or neuroimaging measures. The association with processing speed was driven by individuals with MCI, as it was not detected in CU individuals. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that in early old age men without dementia, plasma NfL does not appear to be sensitive to cross-sectional individual differences in most domains of cognition or neuroimaging measures of gray and white matter. The revealed plasma NfL associations were limited to WMH for all participants and processing speed only within the MCI cohort. Importantly, considering cognitive status in community-based samples will better inform the interpretation of the relationships of plasma NfL with cognition and brain and may help resolve mixed findings in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongxiang Tang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, USA.
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, USA.
| | - Erik Buchholz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, USA
| | - Anders M Dale
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, USA
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, USA
| | - Robert A Rissman
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, USA
| | - Christine Fennema-Notestine
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, USA
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, USA
| | - Nathan A Gillespie
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavior Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23284, USA
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Donald J Hagler
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, USA
| | - Michael J Lyons
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, 02215, USA
| | - Michael C Neale
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavior Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23284, USA
| | - Matthew S Panizzon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, USA
| | - Olivia K Puckett
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, USA
| | - Chandra A Reynolds
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, 80309, USA
| | - Carol E Franz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, USA
| | - William S Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, USA
| | - Jeremy A Elman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, USA
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Buchholz E, Gillespie NA, Hunt JF, Reynolds CA, Rissman RA, Schroeder A, Cortes I, Bell T, Lyons MJ, Kremen WS, Franz CE. Midlife cumulative deficit frailty predicts Alzheimer's disease-related plasma biomarkers in older adults. Age Ageing 2024; 53:afae028. [PMID: 38454901 PMCID: PMC10921085 DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afae028] [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: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The study explores whether frailty at midlife predicts mortality and levels of biomarkers associated with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) and neurodegeneration by early old age. We also examine the heritability of frailty across this age period. METHODS Participants were 1,286 community-dwelling men from the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging at average ages 56, 62 and 68, all without ADRD at baseline. The cumulative deficit frailty index (FI) comprised 37 items assessing multiple physiological systems. Plasma biomarkers at age 68 included beta-amyloid (Aβ40, Aβ42), total tau (t-tau) and neurofilament light chain (NfL). RESULTS Being frail doubled the risk of all-cause mortality by age 68 (OR = 2.44). Age 56 FI significantly predicted age 68 NfL (P = 0.014), Aβ40 (P = 0.001) and Aβ42 (P = 0.023), but not t-tau. Age 62 FI predicted all biomarkers at age 68: NfL (P = 0.023), Aβ40 (P = 0.002), Aβ42 (P = 0.001) and t-tau (P = 0.001). Age 68 FI scores were associated with age 68 levels of NfL (P = 0.027), Aβ40 (P < 0.001), Aβ42 (P = 0.001) and t-tau (P = 0.003). Genetic influences accounted for 45-48% of the variance in frailty and significantly contributed to its stability across 11 years. CONCLUSIONS Frailty during one's 50s doubled the risk of mortality by age 68. A mechanism linking frailty and ADRD may be through its associations with biomarkers related to neurodegeneration. Cumulative deficit frailty increases with age but remains moderately heritable across the age range studied. With environmental factors accounting for about half of its variance, early interventions aimed at reducing frailty may help to reduce risk for ADRD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Buchholz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Information Science, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, AR 72204 USA
| | - Nathan A Gillespie
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavior Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, VA 23298, USA
| | - Jack F Hunt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Chandra A Reynolds
- Department of Psychology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Robert A Rissman
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego and VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute, University of Southern California, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Angelica Schroeder
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Isaac Cortes
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Tyler Bell
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Michael J Lyons
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - William S Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Carol E Franz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
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Adamowicz DH, Wu TC, Daly R, Irwin MR, Jeste DV, Tu XM, Eyler LT, Lee EE. Executive functioning trajectories and their prospective association with inflammatory biomarkers in schizophrenia and non-psychiatric comparison participants. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 128:110866. [PMID: 37742747 PMCID: PMC10829566 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS Cognitive change in people with schizophrenia (PwS) is challenging to assess, but important to understand. Previous studies with limited age ranges and follow-up were subject to practice effects. Controlling for practice effects in a well-established cohort, we examined executive functioning trajectories and their association with inflammatory biomarkers, hypothesizing that PwS will have worsening executive functioning over time compared to non-psychiatric comparison participants (NCs), predicted by higher baseline inflammation with a stronger relationship in PwS than NCs. STUDY DESIGN Executive functioning was assessed in 350 participants (n = 186 PwS, 164 NCs) at 12-16-month intervals (0 to 7 follow-up visits). Inflammatory biomarkers at baseline included high sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP), Interferon-gamma, Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-alpha, and Interleukin(IL)-6, -8, and - 10. Executive functioning trajectories across diagnostic groups were estimated using a linear mixed-effects model controlling for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and education level, with additional models to assess prediction by baseline inflammation. STUDY RESULTS Over 4.4 years average follow-up, improvements in executive functioning were attenuated in PwS and older participants. Controlling for practice effects negated improvements, revealing declines among highly educated participants regardless of diagnosis. Higher baseline hs-CRP predicted worse executive functioning only among NCs, while TNF-alpha was predictive of change in all participants only after controlling for practice effects. Only the main effect of hs-CRP on executive function was significant after adjusting for multiple comparisons. None of the other inflammatory biomarkers predicted executive functioning or trajectories of performance among study participants. CONCLUSIONS Systemic inflammation as reflected by baseline inflammatory biomarker levels did not predict longitudinal declines in executive functioning. Additional studies examining the temporal dynamics of inflammation and cognition in PwS will help further clarify their relationship and associated mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- David H Adamowicz
- Mass General Brigham, Department of Psychiatry, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
| | - Tsung-Chin Wu
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
| | - Rebecca Daly
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
| | - Michael R Irwin
- Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Dilip V Jeste
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Xin M Tu
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
| | - Lisa T Eyler
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Desert-Pacific Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA.
| | - Ellen E Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Desert-Pacific Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA.
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7
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Gillespie NA, Elman JA, McKenzie RE, Tu XM, Xian H, Reynolds CA, Panizzon MS, Lyons MJ, Eglit GML, Neale MC, Rissman RA, Franz C, Kremen WS. The heritability of blood-based biomarkers related to risk of Alzheimer's disease in a population-based sample of early old-age men. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:356-365. [PMID: 37622539 PMCID: PMC10843753 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite their increased application, the heritability of Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related blood-based biomarkers remains unexplored. METHODS Plasma amyloid beta 40 (Aβ40), Aβ42, the Aβ42/40 ratio, total tau (t-tau), and neurofilament light (NfL) data came from 1035 men 60 to 73 years of age (μ = 67.0, SD = 2.6). Twin models were used to calculate heritability and the genetic and environmental correlations between them. RESULTS Additive genetics explained 44% to 52% of Aβ42, Aβ40, t-tau, and NfL. The Aβ42/40 ratio was not heritable. Aβ40 and Aβ42 were genetically near identical (rg = 0.94). Both Aβ40 and Aβ42 were genetically correlated with NfL (rg = 0.35 to 0.38), but genetically unrelated to t-tau. DISCUSSION Except for Aβ42/40, plasma biomarkers are heritable. Aβ40 and Aβ42 share mostly the same genetic influences, whereas genetic influences on plasma t-tau and NfL are largely unique in early old-age men. The absence of genetic associations between the Aβs and t-tau is not consistent with the amyloid cascade hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan A. Gillespie
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behaviour GeneticsDepartment of PsychiatryVirginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondVirginiaUSA
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Jeremy A. Elman
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of California, San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of AgingUniversity of California, San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Ruth E. McKenzie
- Department of PsychologyBoston UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
- School of Education and Social PolicyMerrimack CollegeNorth AndoverMassachusettsUSA
| | - Xin M. Tu
- Center for Behavior Genetics of AgingUniversity of California, San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Family Medicine and Public HealthUniversity of California, San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Hong Xian
- Department of Epidemiology and BiostatisticsSaint. Louis UniversitySt. LouisMissouriUSA
- Research Service, VA St. Louis Healthcare SystemSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | | | - Matthew S. Panizzon
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of California, San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of AgingUniversity of California, San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Michael J. Lyons
- Department of Psychological and Brain SciencesBoston UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Graham M. L. Eglit
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of California, San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on AgingUniversity of California San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Michael C. Neale
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behaviour GeneticsDepartment of PsychiatryVirginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondVirginiaUSA
| | - Robert A. Rissman
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of California, San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of AgingUniversity of California, San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Carol Franz
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of California, San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of AgingUniversity of California, San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - William S. Kremen
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of California, San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of AgingUniversity of California, San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
- Department of NeurosciencesUniversity of California, San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
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8
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Bell TR, Elman JA, Beck A, Fennema-Notestine C, Gustavson DE, Hagler DJ, Jak AJ, Lyons MJ, Puckett OK, Toomey R, Franz CE, Kremen WS. Rostral-middle locus coeruleus integrity and subjective cognitive decline in early old age. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2023; 29:763-774. [PMID: 36524301 PMCID: PMC10272292 DOI: 10.1017/s1355617722000881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Abnormal tau, a hallmark Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, may appear in the locus coeruleus (LC) decades before AD symptom onset. Reports of subjective cognitive decline are also often present prior to formal diagnosis. Yet, the relationship between LC structural integrity and subjective cognitive decline has remained unexplored. Here, we aimed to explore these potential associations. METHODS We examined 381 community-dwelling men (mean age = 67.58; SD = 2.62) in the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging who underwent LC-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging and completed the Everyday Cognition scale to measure subjective cognitive decline along with their selected informants. Mixed models examined the associations between rostral-middle and caudal LC integrity and subjective cognitive decline after adjusting for depressive symptoms, physical morbidities, and family. Models also adjusted for current objective cognitive performance and objective cognitive decline to explore attenuation. RESULTS For participant ratings, lower rostral-middle LC contrast to noise ratio (LCCNR) was associated with significantly greater subjective decline in memory, executive function, and visuospatial abilities. For informant ratings, lower rostral-middle LCCNR was associated with significantly greater subjective decline in memory only. Associations remained after adjusting for current objective cognition and objective cognitive decline in respective domains. CONCLUSIONS Lower rostral-middle LC integrity is associated with greater subjective cognitive decline. Although not explained by objective cognitive performance, such a relationship may explain increased AD risk in people with subjective cognitive decline as the LC is an important neural substrate important for higher order cognitive processing, attention, and arousal and one of the first sites of AD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler R. Bell
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093
| | - Jeremy A. Elman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093
| | - Asad Beck
- Center for Neurotechnology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Christine Fennema-Notestine
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093
| | - Daniel E. Gustavson
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
| | - Donald J. Hagler
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093
| | - Amy J. Jak
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093
| | - Michael J Lyons
- Department of Psychology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA, 02215
| | - Olivia K. Puckett
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093
| | - Rosemary Toomey
- Department of Psychology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA, 02215
| | - Carol E. Franz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093
| | - William S. Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093
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9
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Williams ME, Elman JA, Bell TR, Dale AM, Eyler LT, Fennema-Notestine C, Franz CE, Gillespie NA, Hagler DJ, Lyons MJ, McEvoy LK, Neale MC, Panizzon MS, Reynolds CA, Sanderson-Cimino M, Kremen WS. Higher cortical thickness/volume in Alzheimer's-related regions: protective factor or risk factor? Neurobiol Aging 2023; 129:185-194. [PMID: 37343448 PMCID: PMC10676195 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2023.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Some evidence suggests a biphasic pattern of changes in cortical thickness wherein higher, rather than lower, thickness is associated with very early Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. We examined whether integrating information from AD brain signatures based on mean diffusivity (MD) can aid in the interpretation of cortical thickness/volume as a risk factor for future AD-related changes. Participants were 572 men in the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging who were cognitively unimpaired at baseline (mean age = 56 years; range = 51-60). Individuals with both high thickness/volume signatures and high MD signatures at baseline had lower cortical thickness/volume in AD signature regions and lower episodic memory performance 12 years later compared to those with high thickness/volume and low MD signatures at baseline. Groups did not differ in level of young adult cognitive reserve. Our findings are in line with a biphasic model in which increased cortical thickness may precede future decline and establish the value of examining cortical MD alongside cortical thickness to identify subgroups with differential risk for poorer brain and cognitive outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- McKenna E Williams
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Jeremy A Elman
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Tyler R Bell
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Anders M Dale
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Lisa T Eyler
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Desert Pacific Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Christine Fennema-Notestine
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Carol E Franz
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Nathan A Gillespie
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavior Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Donald J Hagler
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Michael J Lyons
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Linda K McEvoy
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Michael C Neale
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavior Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Matthew S Panizzon
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Chandra A Reynolds
- Department of Psychology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Mark Sanderson-Cimino
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - William S Kremen
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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10
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Williams ME, Gillespie NA, Bell TR, Dale AM, Elman JA, Eyler LT, Fennema-Notestine C, Franz CE, Hagler DJ, Lyons MJ, McEvoy LK, Neale MC, Panizzon MS, Reynolds CA, Sanderson-Cimino M, Kremen WS. Genetic and Environmental Influences on Structural and Diffusion-Based Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Signatures Across Midlife and Early Old Age. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2023; 8:918-927. [PMID: 35738479 PMCID: PMC9827615 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2022.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Composite scores of magnetic resonance imaging-derived metrics in brain regions associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), commonly termed AD signatures, have been developed to distinguish early AD-related atrophy from normal age-associated changes. Diffusion-based gray matter signatures may be more sensitive to early AD-related changes compared with thickness/volume-based signatures, demonstrating their potential clinical utility. The timing of early (i.e., midlife) changes in AD signatures from different modalities and whether diffusion- and thickness/volume-based signatures each capture unique AD-related phenotypic or genetic information remains unknown. METHODS Our validated thickness/volume signature, our novel mean diffusivity (MD) signature, and a magnetic resonance imaging-derived measure of brain age were used in biometrical analyses to examine genetic and environmental influences on the measures as well as phenotypic and genetic relationships between measures over 12 years. Participants were 736 men from 3 waves of the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging (VETSA) (baseline/wave 1: mean age [years] = 56.1, SD = 2.6, range = 51.1-60.2). Subsequent waves occurred at approximately 5.7-year intervals. RESULTS MD and thickness/volume signatures were highly heritable (56%-72%). Baseline MD signatures predicted thickness/volume signatures over a decade later, but baseline thickness/volume signatures showed a significantly weaker relationship with future MD signatures. AD signatures and brain age were correlated, but each measure captured unique phenotypic and genetic variance. CONCLUSIONS Cortical MD and thickness/volume AD signatures are heritable, and each signature captures unique variance that is also not explained by brain age. Moreover, results are in line with changes in MD emerging before changes in cortical thickness, underscoring the utility of MD as a very early predictor of AD risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- McKenna E Williams
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California; Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University/University of California San Diego, San Diego, California.
| | - Nathan A Gillespie
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavior Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Tyler R Bell
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California
| | - Anders M Dale
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California; Department of Neuroscience, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California
| | - Jeremy A Elman
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California
| | - Lisa T Eyler
- Desert Pacific Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
| | - Christine Fennema-Notestine
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California; Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California
| | - Carol E Franz
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California
| | - Donald J Hagler
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California
| | - Michael J Lyons
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Linda K McEvoy
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California
| | - Michael C Neale
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavior Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Matthew S Panizzon
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California
| | - Chandra A Reynolds
- Department of Psychology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California
| | - Mark Sanderson-Cimino
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California; Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University/University of California San Diego, San Diego, California
| | - William S Kremen
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California
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11
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Luczak SE, Beam CR, Pahlen S, Lynch M, Pilgrim M, Reynolds CA, Panizzon MS, Catts VS, Christensen K, Finkel D, Franz CE, Kremen WS, Lee T, McGue M, Nygaard M, Plassman BL, Whitfield KE, Pedersen NL, Gatz M. Remember This: Age Moderation of Genetic and Environmental Contributions to Verbal Episodic Memory from Midlife through Late Adulthood. INTELLIGENCE 2023; 99:101759. [PMID: 37389150 PMCID: PMC10306264 DOI: 10.1016/j.intell.2023.101759] [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] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
It is well documented that memory is heritable and that older adults tend to have poorer memory performance than younger adults. However, whether the magnitudes of genetic and environmental contributions to late-life verbal episodic memory ability differ from those at earlier ages remains unresolved. Twins from 12 studies participating in the Interplay of Genes and Environment in Multiple Studies (IGEMS) consortium constituted the analytic sample. Verbal episodic memory was assessed with immediate word list recall (N = 35,204 individuals; 21,792 twin pairs) and prose recall (N = 3,805 individuals; 2,028 twin pairs), with scores harmonized across studies. Average test performance was lower in successively older age groups for both measures. Twin models found significant age moderation for both measures, with total inter-individual variance increasing significantly with age, although it was not possible definitively to attribute the increase specifically to either genetic or environmental sources. Pooled results across all 12 studies were compared to results where we successively dropped each study (leave-one-out) to assure results were not due to an outlier. We conclude the models indicated an overall increase in variance for verbal episodic memory that was driven by a combination of increases in the genetic and nonshared environmental parameters that were not independently statistically significant. In contrast to reported results for other cognitive domains, differences in environmental exposures are comparatively important for verbal episodic memory, especially word list learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan E. Luczak
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christopher R. Beam
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Shandell Pahlen
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Morgan Lynch
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Matthew Pilgrim
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Chandra A. Reynolds
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Matthew S. Panizzon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Vibeke S. Catts
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Kaare Christensen
- The Danish Twin Registry, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Deborah Finkel
- Center for Economic and Social Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Institute of Gerontology, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Sweden
| | - Carol E. Franz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - William S. Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Teresa Lee
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Matt McGue
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Marianne Nygaard
- The Danish Twin Registry, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
| | - Brenda L. Plassman
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
| | - Keith E. 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
| | - Margaret Gatz
- Center for Economic and Social Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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12
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Garduno AC, Laughlin GA, Bergstrom J, Tu XM, Cummins KM, Franz CE, Elman JA, Lyons MJ, Reynolds CA, Neale MC, Gillespie NA, Xian H, McKenzie RE, Toomey R, Kremen WS, Panizzon MS, McEvoy LK. Alcohol use and cognitive aging in middle-aged men: The Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2023; 29:235-245. [PMID: 35465863 PMCID: PMC9592679 DOI: 10.1017/s1355617722000169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine associations of alcohol use with cognitive aging among middle-aged men. METHOD 1,608 male twins (mean 57 years at baseline) participated in up to three visits over 12 years, from 2003-2007 to 2016-2019. Participants were classified into six groups based on current and past self-reported alcohol use: lifetime abstainers, former drinkers, very light (1-4 drinks in past 14 days), light (5-14 drinks), moderate (15-28 drinks), and at-risk drinkers (>28 drinks in past 14 days). Linear mixed-effects regressions modeled cognitive trajectories by alcohol group, with time-based models evaluating rate of decline as a function of baseline alcohol use, and age-based models evaluating age-related differences in performance by current alcohol use. Analyses used standardized cognitive domain factor scores and adjusted for sociodemographic and health-related factors. RESULTS Performance decreased over time in all domains. Relative to very light drinkers, former drinkers showed worse verbal fluency performance, by -0.21 SD (95% CI -0.35, -0.07), and at-risk drinkers showed faster working memory decline, by 0.14 SD (95% CI 0.02, -0.20) per decade. There was no evidence of protective associations of light/moderate drinking on rate of decline. In age-based models, light drinkers displayed better memory performance at advanced ages than very light drinkers (+0.14 SD; 95% CI 0.02, 0.20 per 10-years older age); likely attributable to residual confounding or reverse association. CONCLUSIONS Alcohol consumption showed minimal associations with cognitive aging among middle-aged men. Stronger associations of alcohol with cognitive aging may become apparent at older ages, when cognitive abilities decline more rapidly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis C Garduno
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Gail A Laughlin
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jaclyn Bergstrom
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Xin M Tu
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Kevin M Cummins
- Department of Public Health, California State University, Fullerton, CA, USA
| | - Carol E Franz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jeremy A Elman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Michael J Lyons
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chandra A Reynolds
- Department of Psychology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Michael C Neale
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Nathan A Gillespie
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Hong Xian
- Department of Statistics, St Louis University, St Louis, MO, USA
- Research Service, VA St Louis Healthcare System, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Ruth E McKenzie
- Department of Psychology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Applied Human Development and Community Studies, Merrimack College, North Andover, MA, USA
| | - Rosemary Toomey
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - William S Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Matthew S Panizzon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Linda K McEvoy
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
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13
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Why twin studies are important for health span science research: the case of maltreatment of aging adults. BMC Geriatr 2022; 22:943. [PMID: 36482330 PMCID: PMC9730656 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-022-03440-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Average life expectancies have lengthened across human history. As a result, there is an increased need to care for a greater number of individuals experiencing common age-related declines in health. This has helped to spur a rapidly increasing focus on understanding "health span", the portion of the life-course spent functionally healthy. Yet to penetrate the science of health span, however, is a topic which seems fundamental to the ability to age in functional and healthy ways, and has received considerable attention in other fields. As more of the population ages, the risk of exposure to abuse and neglect among older citizens not only rises, but can manifest as both cause and effect of declining health span. Among our goals here is to make a case for including this subject among the other central components of health span science. In so doing, we also outline reasons why quantitative genetic designs using samples of twins can be a versatile tool for improving causal inference when studying maltreatment among older persons specifically, but also on a range of other health span topics in general.
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14
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Tang R, Elman JA, Franz CE, Dale AM, Eyler LT, Fennema-Notestine C, Hagler DJ, Lyons MJ, Panizzon MS, Puckett OK, Kremen WS. Longitudinal association of executive function and structural network controllability in the aging brain. GeroScience 2022; 45:837-849. [PMID: 36269506 PMCID: PMC9886719 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-022-00676-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Executive function encompasses effortful cognitive processes that are particularly susceptible to aging. Functional brain networks supporting executive function-such as the frontoparietal control network and the multiple demand system-have been extensively investigated. However, it remains unclear how structural networks facilitate and constrain the dynamics of functional networks to contribute to aging-related executive function declines. We examined whether changes in structural network modal controllability-a network's ability to facilitate effortful brain state transitions that support cognitive functions-are associated with changes in executive function cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Diffusion-weighted imaging and neuropsychological testing were conducted at two time points (Time 1: ages 56 to 66, N = 172; Time 2: ages 61 to 70, N = 267) in community-dwelling men from the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging. An executive function factor score was computed from six neuropsychological tasks. Structural networks constructed from white matter connectivity were used to estimate modal controllability in control network and multiple demand system. We showed that higher modal controllability in control network and multiple demand system was associated with better executive function at Time 2, after controlling for age, young adult general cognitive ability, and physical health status. Moreover, changes in executive function over a period of 5 to 6 years (Time 1-Time 2, N = 105) were associated with changes in modal controllability of the multiple demand system and weakly in the control network over the same time period. These findings suggest that changes in the ability of structural brain networks in facilitating effortful brain state transitions may be a key neural mechanism underlying aging-related executive function declines and cognitive aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongxiang Tang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA. .,Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
| | - Jeremy A. Elman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA ,Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA
| | - Carol E. Franz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA ,Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA
| | - Anders M. Dale
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA ,Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA
| | - Lisa T. Eyler
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA ,Desert Pacific Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92093 USA
| | - Christine Fennema-Notestine
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA ,Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA
| | - Donald J. Hagler
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA
| | - Michael J. Lyons
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA 02212 USA
| | - Matthew S. Panizzon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA ,Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA
| | - Olivia K. Puckett
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA ,Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA
| | - William S. Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA ,Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093 USA
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15
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Ditmars HL, Logue MW, Toomey R, McKenzie RE, Franz CE, Panizzon MS, Reynolds CA, Cuthbert KN, Vandiver R, Gustavson DE, Eglit GML, Elman JA, Sanderson-Cimino M, Williams ME, Andreassen OA, Dale AM, Eyler LT, Fennema-Notestine C, Gillespie NA, Hauger RL, Jak AJ, Neale MC, Tu XM, Whitsel N, Xian H, Kremen WS, Lyons MJ. Associations between depression and cardiometabolic health: A 27-year longitudinal study. Psychol Med 2022; 52:3007-3017. [PMID: 33431106 PMCID: PMC8547283 DOI: 10.1017/s003329172000505x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clarifying the relationship between depression symptoms and cardiometabolic and related health could clarify risk factors and treatment targets. The objective of this study was to assess whether depression symptoms in midlife are associated with the subsequent onset of cardiometabolic health problems. METHODS The study sample comprised 787 male twin veterans with polygenic risk score data who participated in the Harvard Twin Study of Substance Abuse ('baseline') and the longitudinal Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging ('follow-up'). Depression symptoms were assessed at baseline [mean age 41.42 years (s.d. = 2.34)] using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule, Version III, Revised. The onset of eight cardiometabolic conditions (atrial fibrillation, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, myocardial infarction, sleep apnea, and stroke) was assessed via self-reported doctor diagnosis at follow-up [mean age 67.59 years (s.d. = 2.41)]. RESULTS Total depression symptoms were longitudinally associated with incident diabetes (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.07-1.57), erectile dysfunction (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.10-1.59), hypercholesterolemia (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.04-1.53), and sleep apnea (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.13-1.74) over 27 years after controlling for age, alcohol consumption, smoking, body mass index, C-reactive protein, and polygenic risk for specific health conditions. In sensitivity analyses that excluded somatic depression symptoms, only the association with sleep apnea remained significant (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.09-1.60). CONCLUSIONS A history of depression symptoms by early midlife is associated with an elevated risk for subsequent development of several self-reported health conditions. When isolated, non-somatic depression symptoms are associated with incident self-reported sleep apnea. Depression symptom history may be a predictor or marker of cardiometabolic risk over decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hillary L. Ditmars
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA
| | - Mark W. Logue
- Research Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA
- Biomedical Genetics Program, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Rosemary Toomey
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA
| | - Ruth E. McKenzie
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA
- School of Education and Social Policy, Merrimack College, North Andover, MA, USA
| | - Carol E. Franz
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Matthew S. Panizzon
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Chandra A. Reynolds
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA
| | - Kristy N. Cuthbert
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA
| | - Richard Vandiver
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA
| | | | - Graham M. L. Eglit
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA
| | - Jeremy A. Elman
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Mark Sanderson-Cimino
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- San Diego State University/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology
| | - McKenna E. Williams
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- San Diego State University/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology
| | - Ole A. Andreassen
- NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine University of Oslo Oslo, Norway
- Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anders M. Dale
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Lisa T. Eyler
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Christine Fennema-Notestine
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Nathan A. Gillespie
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
| | - Richard L. Hauger
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA
| | - Amy J. Jak
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA
| | - Michael C. Neale
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
| | - Xin M. Tu
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA
| | - Nathan Whitsel
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Hong Xian
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Saint Louis University College for Public Health & Social Justice
| | - William S. Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA
| | - Michael J. Lyons
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA
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Moderate Alcohol Use Is Associated with Reduced Cardiovascular Risk in Middle-Aged Men Independent of Health, Behavior, Psychosocial, and Earlier Life Factors. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14112183. [PMID: 35683983 PMCID: PMC9182350 DOI: 10.3390/nu14112183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
We examined whether the often-reported protective association of alcohol with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk could arise from confounding. Our sample comprised 908 men (56−67 years), free of prevalent CVD. Participants were categorized into 6 groups: never drinkers, former drinkers, and very light (1−4 drinks in past 14 days), light (5−14 drinks), moderate (15−28 drinks), and at-risk (>28 drinks) drinkers. Generalized linear mixed effect models examined the associations of alcohol use with three established CVD risk scores: The Framingham Risk Score (FRS); the atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) risk score; and the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) Severity score, adjusting for group differences in demographics, body size, and health-related behaviors. In separate models we additionally adjusted for several groups of potentially explanatory factors including socioeconomic status, social support, physical and mental health status, childhood factors, and prior history of alcohol misuse. Results showed lower CVD risk among light and moderate alcohol drinkers, relative to very light drinkers, for all CVD risk scores, independent of demographics, body size, and health-related behaviors. Alcohol-CVD risk associations were robust to further adjustment for several groups of potential explanatory factors. Study limitations include the all-male sample with limited racial and ethnic diversity, and the inability to adjust for sugar consumption and for patterns of alcohol consumption. Although this observational study does not address causation, results show that middle-aged men who consume alcohol in moderation have lower CVD risk and better cardiometabolic health than men who consume little or no alcohol, independent of a variety of health, behavioral, psychosocial, and earlier life factors.
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Gillespie NA, Hatton SN, Hagler DJ, Dale AM, Elman JA, McEvoy LK, Eyler LT, Fennema-Notestine C, Logue MW, McKenzie RE, Puckett OK, Tu XM, Whitsel N, Xian H, Reynolds CA, Panizzon MS, Lyons MJ, Neale MC, Kremen WS, Franz C. The Impact of Genes and Environment on Brain Ageing in Males Aged 51 to 72 Years. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:831002. [PMID: 35493948 PMCID: PMC9051484 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.831002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging data are being used in statistical models to predicted brain ageing (PBA) and as biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease. Despite their increasing application, the genetic and environmental etiology of global PBA indices is unknown. Likewise, the degree to which genetic influences in PBA are longitudinally stable and how PBA changes over time are also unknown. We analyzed data from 734 men from the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging with repeated MRI assessments between the ages 51-72 years. Biometrical genetic analyses "twin models" revealed significant and highly correlated estimates of additive genetic heritability ranging from 59 to 75%. Multivariate longitudinal modeling revealed that covariation between PBA at different timepoints could be explained by a single latent factor with 73% heritability. Our results suggest that genetic influences on PBA are detectable in midlife or earlier, are longitudinally very stable, and are largely explained by common genetic influences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan A. Gillespie
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behaviour Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States,QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia,*Correspondence: Nathan A. Gillespie,
| | - Sean N. Hatton
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States,Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States,Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Donald J. Hagler
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Anders M. Dale
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States,Center for Multimodal Imaging and Genetics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States,Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Jeremy A. Elman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States,Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Linda K. McEvoy
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Lisa T. Eyler
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States,Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Christine Fennema-Notestine
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States,Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Mark W. Logue
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, United States,Department of Psychiatry and Biomedical Genetics Section, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States,Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ruth E. McKenzie
- Department of Psychology, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States,School of Education and Social Policy, Merrimack College, North Andover, MA, United States
| | - Olivia K. Puckett
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States,Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Xin M. Tu
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States,Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Nathan Whitsel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States,Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Hong Xian
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Saint. Louis University, St. Louis, MO, United States,Research Service, VA St. Louis Healthcare System, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Chandra A. Reynolds
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Matthew S. Panizzon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States,Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Michael J. Lyons
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Michael C. Neale
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behaviour Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States,Department of Biological Psychology, Free University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - William S. Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States,Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States,Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA, United States,William S. Kremen,
| | - Carol Franz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States,Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States,Carol Franz,
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18
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Whitsel N, Reynolds CA, Buchholz EJ, Pahlen S, Pearce RC, Hatton SN, Elman JA, Gillespie NA, Gustavson DE, Puckett OK, Dale AM, Eyler LT, Fennema-Notestine C, Hagler DJ, Hauger RL, McEvoy LK, McKenzie R, Neale MC, Panizzon MS, Sanderson-Cimino M, Toomey R, Tu XM, Williams MKE, Bell T, Xian H, Lyons MJ, Kremen WS, Franz CE. Long-term associations of cigarette smoking in early mid-life with predicted brain aging from mid- to late life. Addiction 2022; 117:1049-1059. [PMID: 34605095 PMCID: PMC8904283 DOI: 10.1111/add.15710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Smoking is associated with increased risk for brain aging/atrophy and dementia. Few studies have examined early associations with brain aging. This study aimed to measure whether adult men with a history of heavier smoking in early mid-life would have older than predicted brain age 16-28 years later. DESIGN Prospective cohort observational study, utilizing smoking pack years data from average age 40 (early mid-life) predicting predicted brain age difference scores (PBAD) at average ages 56, 62 (later mid-life) and 68 years (early old age). Early mid-life alcohol use was also evaluated. SETTING Population-based United States sample. PARTICIPANTS/CASES Participants were male twins of predominantly European ancestry who served in the United States military between 1965 and 1975. Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) began at average age 56. Subsequent study waves included most baseline participants; attrition replacement subjects were added at later waves. MEASUREMENTS Self-reported smoking information was used to calculate pack years smoked at ages 40, 56, 62, and 68. MRIs were processed with the Brain-Age Regression Analysis and Computation Utility software (BARACUS) program to create PBAD scores (chronological age-predicted brain age) acquired at average ages 56 (n = 493; 2002-08), 62 (n = 408; 2009-14) and 68 (n = 499; 2016-19). FINDINGS In structural equation modeling, age 40 pack years predicted more advanced age 56 PBAD [β = -0.144, P = 0.012, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.257, -0.032]. Age 40 pack years did not additionally predict PBAD at later ages. Age 40 alcohol consumption, but not a smoking × alcohol interaction, predicted more advanced PBAD at age 56 (β = -0.166, P = 0.001, 95% CI = -0.261, -0.070) with additional influences at age 62 (β = -0.115, P = 0.005, 95% CI = -0.195, -0.036). Age 40 alcohol did not predict age 68 PBAD. Within-twin-pair analyses suggested some genetic mechanism partially underlying effects of alcohol, but not smoking, on PBAD. CONCLUSIONS Heavier smoking and alcohol consumption by age 40 appears to predict advanced brain aging by age 56 in men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Whitsel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Chandra A Reynolds
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Erik J Buchholz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Shandell Pahlen
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Rahul C Pearce
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Sean N Hatton
- Department of Neuroscience, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jeremy A Elman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Nathan A Gillespie
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavior Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Daniel E Gustavson
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Olivia K Puckett
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Anders M Dale
- Department of Neuroscience, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Lisa T Eyler
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Christine Fennema-Notestine
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Donald J Hagler
- Department of Neuroscience, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Richard L Hauger
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Linda K McEvoy
- Department of Neuroscience, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Ruth McKenzie
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael C Neale
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavior Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Matthew S Panizzon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Mark Sanderson-Cimino
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
- San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Rosemary Toomey
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xin M Tu
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Mc Kenna E Williams
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
- San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Tyler Bell
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Hong Xian
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, St Louis University, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Michael J Lyons
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - William S Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Carol E Franz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
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Makowski C, van der Meer D, Dong W, Wang H, Wu Y, Zou J, Liu C, Rosenthal SB, Hagler DJ, Fan CC, Kremen WS, Andreassen OA, Jernigan TL, Dale AM, Zhang K, Visscher PM, Yang J, Chen CH. Discovery of genomic loci of the human cerebral cortex using genetically informed brain atlases. Science 2022; 375:522-528. [PMID: 35113692 DOI: 10.1126/science.abe8457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
To determine the impact of genetic variants on the brain, we used genetically informed brain atlases in genome-wide association studies of regional cortical surface area and thickness in 39,898 adults and 9136 children. We uncovered 440 genome-wide significant loci in the discovery cohort and 800 from a post hoc combined meta-analysis. Loci in adulthood were largely captured in childhood, showing signatures of negative selection, and were linked to early neurodevelopment and pathways associated with neuropsychiatric risk. Opposing gradations of decreased surface area and increased thickness were associated with common inversion polymorphisms. Inferior frontal regions, encompassing Broca's area, which is important for speech, were enriched for human-specific genomic elements. Thus, a mixed genetic landscape of conserved and human-specific features is concordant with brain hierarchy and morphogenetic gradients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Makowski
- Center for Multimodal Imaging and Genetics, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Dennis van der Meer
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Weixiu Dong
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Hao Wang
- Center for Multimodal Imaging and Genetics, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Yan Wu
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jingjing Zou
- Division of Biostatistics, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Cin Liu
- Center for Multimodal Imaging and Genetics, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Sara B Rosenthal
- Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Donald J Hagler
- Center for Multimodal Imaging and Genetics, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Chun Chieh Fan
- Center for Multimodal Imaging and Genetics, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - William S Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Terry L Jernigan
- Center for Human Development, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Anders M Dale
- Center for Multimodal Imaging and Genetics, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.,Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kun Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Peter M Visscher
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jian Yang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chi-Hua Chen
- Center for Multimodal Imaging and Genetics, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
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20
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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.
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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
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21
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Beam CR, Luczak SE, Panizzon MS, Reynolds CA, Christensen K, Dahl Aslan AK, Elman JA, Franz CE, Kremen WS, Lee T, Nygaard M, Sachdev PS, Whitfield KE, Pedersen NL, Gatz M. Estimating Likelihood of Dementia in the Absence of Diagnostic Data: A Latent Dementia Index in 10 Genetically Informed Studies. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 90:1187-1201. [PMID: 36213997 PMCID: PMC9741742 DOI: 10.3233/jad-220472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epidemiological research on dementia is hampered by differences across studies in how dementia is classified, especially where clinical diagnoses of dementia may not be available. OBJECTIVE We apply structural equation modeling to estimate dementia likelihood across heterogeneous samples within a multi-study consortium and use the twin design of the sample to validate the results. METHODS Using 10 twin studies, we implement a latent variable approach that aligns different tests available in each study to assess cognitive, memory, and functional ability. The model separates general cognitive ability from components indicative of dementia. We examine the validity of this continuous latent dementia index (LDI). We then identify cut-off points along the LDI distributions in each study and align them across studies to distinguish individuals with and without probable dementia. Finally, we validate the LDI by determining its heritability and estimating genetic and environmental correlations between the LDI and clinically diagnosed dementia where available. RESULTS Results indicate that coordinated estimation of LDI across 10 studies has validity against clinically diagnosed dementia. The LDI can be fit to heterogeneous sets of memory, other cognitive, and functional ability variables to extract a score reflective of likelihood of dementia that can be interpreted similarly across studies despite diverse study designs and sampling characteristics. Finally, the same genetic sources of variance strongly contribute to both the LDI and clinical diagnosis. CONCLUSION This latent dementia indicator approach may serve as a model for other research consortia confronted with similar data integration challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R. Beam
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Susan E. Luczak
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Matthew S. Panizzon
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Chandra A. Reynolds
- Department of Psychology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Kaare Christensen
- The Danish Twin Registry, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Anna K. Dahl Aslan
- School of Health Sciences, University of Skövde, Skövde, Sweden
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Jeremy A. Elman
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Carol E. Franz
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - William S. Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Teresa Lee
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Marianne Nygaard
- The Danish Twin Registry, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Perminder S. Sachdev
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Keith E. Whitfield
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada LasVegas, Las Vegas, Nevada
| | - Nancy L. Pedersen
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Margaret Gatz
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
- Center for Economic and Social Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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22
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Williams ME, Elman JA, McEvoy LK, Andreassen OA, Dale AM, Eglit GML, Eyler LT, Fennema-Notestine C, Franz CE, Gillespie NA, Hagler DJ, Hatton SN, Hauger RL, Jak AJ, Logue MW, Lyons MJ, McKenzie RE, Neale MC, Panizzon MS, Puckett OK, Reynolds CA, Sanderson-Cimino M, Toomey R, Tu XM, Whitsel N, Xian H, Kremen WS. 12-year prediction of mild cognitive impairment aided by Alzheimer's brain signatures at mean age 56. Brain Commun 2021; 3:fcab167. [PMID: 34396116 PMCID: PMC8361427 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcab167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroimaging signatures based on composite scores of cortical thickness and hippocampal volume predict progression from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease. However, little is known about the ability of these signatures among cognitively normal adults to predict progression to mild cognitive impairment. Towards that end, a signature sensitive to microstructural changes that may predate macrostructural atrophy should be useful. We hypothesized that: (i) a validated MRI-derived Alzheimer's disease signature based on cortical thickness and hippocampal volume in cognitively normal middle-aged adults would predict progression to mild cognitive impairment; and (ii) a novel grey matter mean diffusivity signature would be a better predictor than the thickness/volume signature. This cohort study was part of the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging. Concurrent analyses compared cognitively normal and mild cognitive impairment groups at each of three study waves (ns = 246-367). Predictive analyses included 169 cognitively normal men at baseline (age = 56.1, range = 51-60). Our previously published thickness/volume signature derived from independent data, a novel mean diffusivity signature using the same regions and weights as the thickness/volume signature, age, and an Alzheimer's disease polygenic risk score were used to predict incident mild cognitive impairment an average of 12 years after baseline (follow-up age = 67.2, range = 61-71). Additional analyses adjusted for predicted brain age difference scores (chronological age minus predicted brain age) to determine if signatures were Alzheimer-related and not simply ageing-related. In concurrent analyses, individuals with mild cognitive impairment had higher (worse) mean diffusivity signature scores than cognitively normal participants, but thickness/volume signature scores did not differ between groups. In predictive analyses, age and polygenic risk score yielded an area under the curve of 0.74 (sensitivity = 80.00%; specificity = 65.10%). Prediction was significantly improved with addition of the mean diffusivity signature (area under the curve = 0.83; sensitivity = 85.00%; specificity = 77.85%; P = 0.007), but not with addition of the thickness/volume signature. A model including both signatures did not improve prediction over a model with only the mean diffusivity signature. Results held up after adjusting for predicted brain age difference scores. The novel mean diffusivity signature was limited by being yoked to the thickness/volume signature weightings. An independently derived mean diffusivity signature may thus provide even stronger prediction. The young age of the sample at baseline is particularly notable. Given that the brain signatures were examined when participants were only in their 50 s, our results suggest a promising step towards improving very early identification of Alzheimer's disease risk and the potential value of mean diffusivity and/or multimodal brain signatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- McKenna E Williams
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Jeremy A Elman
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Linda K McEvoy
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo 0316, Norway
- Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo 0372, Norway
| | - Anders M Dale
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Graham M L Eglit
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Lisa T Eyler
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Desert Pacific Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, VA San Diego Healthcare System, CA 92093, USA
| | - Christine Fennema-Notestine
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Carol E Franz
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Nathan A Gillespie
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavior Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
| | - Donald J Hagler
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Sean N Hatton
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Richard L Hauger
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health (CESAMH), VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Amy J Jak
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Mark W Logue
- National Center for PTSD: Behavioral Science Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and the Biomedical Genetics Section, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Michael J Lyons
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA 02212, USA
| | - Ruth E McKenzie
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- School of Education and Social Policy, Merrimack College, North Andover, MA 01845, USA
| | - Michael C Neale
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavior Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
| | - Matthew S Panizzon
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Olivia K Puckett
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Chandra A Reynolds
- Department of Psychology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Mark Sanderson-Cimino
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Rosemary Toomey
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA 02212, USA
| | - Xin M Tu
- Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Nathan Whitsel
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Hong Xian
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63103, USA
| | - William S Kremen
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health (CESAMH), VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
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23
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Fjell AM, Grydeland H, Wang Y, Amlien IK, Bartres-Faz D, Brandmaier AM, Düzel S, Elman J, Franz CE, Håberg AK, Kietzmann TC, Kievit RA, Kremen WS, Krogsrud SK, Kühn S, Lindenberger U, Macía D, Mowinckel AM, Nyberg L, Panizzon MS, Solé-Padullés C, Sørensen Ø, Westerhausen R, Walhovd KB. The genetic organization of longitudinal subcortical volumetric change is stable throughout the lifespan. eLife 2021; 10:66466. [PMID: 34180395 PMCID: PMC8260220 DOI: 10.7554/elife.66466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Development and aging of the cerebral cortex show similar topographic organization and are governed by the same genes. It is unclear whether the same is true for subcortical regions, which follow fundamentally different ontogenetic and phylogenetic principles. We tested the hypothesis that genetically governed neurodevelopmental processes can be traced throughout life by assessing to which degree brain regions that develop together continue to change together through life. Analyzing over 6000 longitudinal MRIs of the brain, we used graph theory to identify five clusters of coordinated development, indexed as patterns of correlated volumetric change in brain structures. The clusters tended to follow placement along the cranial axis in embryonic brain development, suggesting continuity from prenatal stages, and correlated with cognition. Across independent longitudinal datasets, we demonstrated that developmental clusters were conserved through life. Twin-based genetic correlations revealed distinct sets of genes governing change in each cluster. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms-based analyses of 38,127 cross-sectional MRIs showed a similar pattern of genetic volume–volume correlations. In conclusion, coordination of subcortical change adheres to fundamental principles of lifespan continuity and genetic organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Martin Fjell
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hakon Grydeland
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Yunpeng Wang
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Inge K Amlien
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - David Bartres-Faz
- Departament de Medicina, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, and Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andreas M Brandmaier
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany.,Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sandra Düzel
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jeremy Elman
- Center for Behavioral Genomics Twin Research Laboratory, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, United States
| | - Carol E Franz
- Center for Behavioral Genomics Twin Research Laboratory, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, United States
| | - Asta K Håberg
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Tim C Kietzmann
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Rogier Andrew Kievit
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - William S Kremen
- Center for Behavioral Genomics Twin Research Laboratory, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, United States.,Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, United States
| | - Stine K Krogsrud
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Simone Kühn
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany.,Lise Meitner Group for Environmental Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulman Lindenberger
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany.,Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Didac Macía
- Departament de Medicina, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, and Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Athanasia Monika Mowinckel
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lars Nyberg
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Radiation Sciences, Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Matthew S Panizzon
- Center for Behavioral Genomics Twin Research Laboratory, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, United States
| | - Cristina Solé-Padullés
- Departament de Medicina, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, and Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Øystein Sørensen
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Rene Westerhausen
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kristine Beate Walhovd
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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24
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Wilde EA, Dennis EL, Tate DF. The ENIGMA Brain Injury working group: approach, challenges, and potential benefits. Brain Imaging Behav 2021; 15:465-474. [PMID: 33506440 PMCID: PMC8035294 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-021-00450-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The Enhancing NeuroImaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) consortium brings together researchers from around the world to try to identify the genetic underpinnings of brain structure and function, along with robust, generalizable effects of neurological and psychiatric disorders. The recently-formed ENIGMA Brain Injury working group includes 10 subgroups, based largely on injury mechanism and patient population. This introduction to the special issue summarizes the history, organization, and objectives of ENIGMA Brain Injury, and includes a discussion of strategies, challenges, opportunities and goals common across 6 of the subgroups under the umbrella of ENIGMA Brain Injury. The following articles in this special issue, including 6 articles from different subgroups, will detail the challenges and opportunities specific to each subgroup.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth A Wilde
- TBICC, Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- H. Ben Taub Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Emily L Dennis
- TBICC, Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
- George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Imaging Genetics Center, Stevens Neuroimaging & Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Marina del Rey, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - David F Tate
- TBICC, Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Missouri Institute of Mental Health, University of Missouri, St. Louis, MO, USA
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25
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Sanderson-Cimino M, Panizzon MS, Elman JA, Tu X, Gustavson DE, Puckett O, Cross K, Notestine R, Hatton SN, Eyler LT, McEvoy LK, Hagler DJ, Neale MC, Gillespie NA, Lyons MJ, Franz CE, Fennema-Notestine C, Kremen WS. Periventricular and deep abnormal white matter differ in associations with cognitive performance at midlife. Neuropsychology 2021; 35:252-264. [PMID: 33970659 PMCID: PMC8500190 DOI: 10.1037/neu0000718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Abnormal white matter (AWM) on magnetic resonance imaging is associated with cognitive performance in older adults. We explored cognitive associations with AWM during late-midlife. Method: Participants were community-dwelling men (n = 242; M = 61.90 years; range = 56-66). Linear-mixed effects regression models examined associations of total, periventricular, and deep AWM with cognitive performance, controlling for multiple comparisons. Models considering specific cognitive domains controlled for current general cognitive ability (GCA). We hypothesized that total AWM would be associated with worse processing speed, executive function, and current GCA; deep AWM would correlate with GCA and periventricular AWM would relate to specific cognitive abilities. We also assessed the potential influence of cognitive reserve by examining a moderation effect of early life (mean age of 20) cognition. Results: Greater total and deep AWM were associated with poorer current GCA. Periventricular AWM was associated with worse executive function, working memory, and episodic memory. When periventricular and deep AWM were modeled simultaneously, both retained their respective significant associations with cognitive performance. Cognitive reserve did not moderate associations. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that AWM contributes to poorer cognitive function in late-midlife. Examining only total AWM may obscure the potential differential impact of regional AWM. Separating total AWM into subtypes while controlling for current GCA revealed a dissociation in relationships with cognitive performance; deep AWM was associated with nonspecific cognitive ability whereas periventricular AWM was associated with specific frontal-related abilities and memory. Management of vascular or other risk factors that may increase the risk of AWM should begin during or before early late-midlife. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Sanderson-Cimino
- Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State/University of California
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California
| | - Matthew S. Panizzon
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California
- Department of Psychiatry University of California
| | - Jeremy A. Elman
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California
- Department of Psychiatry University of California
| | - Xin Tu
- Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California
| | - Daniel E. Gustavson
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California
- Department of Psychiatry University of California
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
| | - Olivia Puckett
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California
- Department of Psychiatry University of California
| | | | - Randy Notestine
- Department of Psychiatry University of California
- Computational and Applied Statistics Laboratory (CASL) at the San Diego Supercomputer Center
| | - Sean N Hatton
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California
- Department of Psychiatry University of California
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California
| | - Lisa T. Eyler
- Department of Psychiatry University of California
- Mental Illness Research, Education, And Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System
| | - Linda K. McEvoy
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego
| | | | - Michael C. Neale
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavior Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University
| | - Nathan A. Gillespie
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavior Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University
| | - Michael J. Lyons
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University
| | - Carol E. Franz
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California
- Department of Psychiatry University of California
| | - Christine Fennema-Notestine
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California
- Department of Psychiatry University of California
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego
| | - William S. Kremen
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California
- Department of Psychiatry University of California
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System
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26
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Gustavson DE, Panizzon MS, Kremen WS, Reynolds CA, Pahlen S, Nygaard M, Wod M, Catts VS, Lee T, Gatz M, Franz CE. Genetic and Environmental Influences on Semantic Verbal Fluency Across Midlife and Later Life. Behav Genet 2021; 51:99-109. [PMID: 33547998 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-021-10048-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Despite the relevance of semantic fluency measures to risk for dementia and psychiatric disorders, little is known about their genetic and environmental architecture in mid-to-late life. Participants represent 21,684 middle-aged and older adult twins (M = 60.84 years, SD = 11.21; Range 40-89) from six studies from three countries participating in the Interplay of Genes and Environment across Multiple Studies (IGEMS) consortium. All completed the same measure of semantic fluency (naming animals in 60 seconds). Results revealed small-to-moderate phenotypic associations with age and education, with education more strongly and positively associated with fluency performance in females than males. Heritability and environmental influences did not vary by age. Environmental variance was smaller with higher levels of education, but this effect was observed only in males. This is the largest study to examine the genetic and environmental architecture of semantic fluency, and the first to demonstrate that environmental influences vary based on levels of education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel E Gustavson
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1420B Medical Center East, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA. .,Department of Psychiatry and Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.
| | - Matthew S Panizzon
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - William S Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.,VA Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Chandra A Reynolds
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Shandell Pahlen
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Marianne Nygaard
- Department of Public Health, The Danish Twin Registry, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Mette Wod
- Department of Public Health, The Danish Twin Registry, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Vibeke S Catts
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Teresa Lee
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Margaret Gatz
- Center for Economic and Social Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Carol E Franz
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
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27
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Darst BF, Huo Z, Jonaitis EM, Koscik RL, Clark LR, Lu Q, Kremen WS, Franz CE, Rana B, Lyons MJ, Hogan KJ, Zhao J, Johnson SC, Engelman CD. Metabolites Associated with Early Cognitive Changes Implicated in Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 79:1041-1054. [PMID: 33427733 PMCID: PMC8054536 DOI: 10.3233/jad-200176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding metabolic mechanisms associated with cognitive changes preceding an Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis could advance our understanding of AD progression and inform preventive methods. OBJECTIVE We investigated the metabolomics of the early changes in executive function and delayed recall, the earliest aspects of cognitive function to change in the course of AD development, in order to better understand mechanisms that could contribute to early stages and progression of this disease. METHODS This investigation used longitudinal plasma samples from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention (WRAP), a cohort of participants who were dementia free at enrollment and enriched with a parental history of AD. Metabolomic profiles were quantified for 2,324 fasting plasma samples among 1,200 participants, each with up to three study visits, which occurred every two years. Metabolites were individually tested for association with executive function and delayed recall trajectories across age. RESULTS Of 1,097 metabolites tested, levels of seven were associated with executive function trajectories, including an amino acid cysteine S-sulfate and three fatty acids, including erucate (22 : 1n9), while none were associated with delayed recall trajectories. Replication was attempted for four of these metabolites that were present in the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging (VETSA). Although none reached statistical significance, three of these associations showed consistent effectdirections. CONCLUSION Our results suggest potential metabolomic mechanisms that could contribute to the earliest signs of cognitive decline. In particular, fatty acids may be associated with cognition in a manner that is more complex than previously suspected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Burcu F. Darst
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Zhiguang Huo
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Erin M. Jonaitis
- Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Rebecca L. Koscik
- Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Lindsay R. Clark
- Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Wm. S. Middleton Memorial VA Hospital, Madison, WI, USA
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Qiongshi Lu
- Department of Biostatistics & Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | | | | | - Brinda Rana
- University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Michael J. Lyons
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kirk J. Hogan
- Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jinying Zhao
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Sterling C. Johnson
- Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Wm. S. Middleton Memorial VA Hospital, Madison, WI, USA
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Corinne D. Engelman
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
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Gustavson DE, Jak AJ, Elman JA, Panizzon MS, Franz CE, Gifford KA, Reynolds CA, Toomey R, Lyons MJ, Kremen WS. How Well Does Subjective Cognitive Decline Correspond to Objectively Measured Cognitive Decline? Assessment of 10-12 Year Change. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 83:291-304. [PMID: 34308902 PMCID: PMC8482061 DOI: 10.3233/jad-210123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although not strongly correlated with current objective cognitive ability, subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Most studies focus on SCD in relation to future decline rather than objective prior decline that it purportedly measures. OBJECTIVE We evaluated whether self-report of cognitive decline-as a continuous measure-corresponds to objectively-assessed episodic memory and executive function decline across the same period. METHODS 1,170 men completed the Everyday Cognition Questionnaire (ECog) at mean age 68 assessing subjective changes in cognitive ability relative to 10 years prior. A subset had mild cognitive impairment (MCI), but MCI was diagnosed without regard to subjective decline. Participants completed up to 3 objective assessments of memory and executive function (M = 56, 62, and 68 years). Informant-reported ECogs were completed for 1,045 individuals. Analyses controlled for depression and anxiety symptoms assessed at mean age 68. RESULTS Participant-reported ECog scores were modestly associated with objective decline for memory (β= -0.23, 95%CI [-0.37, -0.10]) and executive function (β= -0.19, 95%CI [-0.33, -0.05]) over the same time period. However, these associations were nonsignificant after excluding MCI cases. Results were similar for informant ratings. Participant-rated ECog scores were more strongly associated with concurrent depression and anxiety symptoms, (β= 0.44, 95%CI [0.36, 0.53]). CONCLUSION Continuous SCD scores are correlated with prior objective cognitive changes in non-demented individuals, though this association appears driven by individuals with current MCI. However, participants' current depression and anxiety ratings tend to be strongly associated with their SCD ratings. Thus, what primarily drives SCD ratings remains unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel E. Gustavson
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
- Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer’s Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Amy J. Jak
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Psychology Service, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare system, La Jolla, CA
| | - Jeremy A. Elman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Matthew S. Panizzon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Carol E. Franz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Katherine A. Gifford
- Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer’s Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Chandra A. Reynolds
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA
| | - Rosemary Toomey
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA
| | - Michael J. Lyons
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA
| | - William S. Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA
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Slayday RE, Gustavson DE, Elman JA, Beck A, McEvoy LK, Tu XM, Fang B, Hauger RL, Lyons MJ, McKenzie RE, Sanderson-Cimino ME, Xian H, Kremen WS, Franz CE. Interaction between Alcohol Consumption and Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) Genotype with Cognition in Middle-Aged Men. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2021; 27:56-68. [PMID: 32662384 PMCID: PMC7856052 DOI: 10.1017/s1355617720000570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Heavy alcohol consumption is associated with poorer cognitive function in older adults. Although understudied in middle-aged adults, the relationship between alcohol and cognition may also be influenced by genetics such as the apolipoprotein (ApoE) ε4 allele, a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. We examined the relationship between alcohol consumption, ApoE genotype, and cognition in middle-aged adults and hypothesized that light and/or moderate drinkers (≤2 drinks per day) would show better cognitive performance than heavy drinkers or non-drinkers. Additionally, we hypothesized that the association between alcohol use and cognitive function would differ by ApoE genotype (ε4+ vs. ε4-). METHOD Participants were 1266 men from the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging (VETSA; M age = 56; range 51-60) who completed a neuropsychological battery assessing seven cognitive abilities: general cognitive ability (GCA), episodic memory, processing speed, executive function, abstract reasoning, verbal fluency, and visuospatial ability. Alcohol consumption was categorized into five groups: never, former, light, moderate, and heavy. RESULTS In fully adjusted models, there was no significant main effect of alcohol consumption on cognitive functions. However, there was a significant interaction between alcohol consumption and ApoE ε4 status for GCA and episodic memory, such that the relationship of alcohol consumption and cognition was stronger in ε4 carriers. The ε4+ heavy drinking subgroup had the poorest GCA and episodic memory. CONCLUSIONS Presence of the ε4 allele may increase vulnerability to the deleterious effects of heavy alcohol consumption. Beneficial effects of light or moderate alcohol consumption were not observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riki E. Slayday
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San
Diego, CA, USA
| | - Daniel E. Gustavson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San
Diego, La Jolla CA, USA
| | - Jeremy A. Elman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San
Diego, La Jolla CA, USA
| | - Asad Beck
- University of Washington, Graduate Program in Neuroscience,
Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Linda K. McEvoy
- Department of Radiology, University of California San
Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Xin M. Tu
- Department of Family Medicine, University of California San
Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Bin Fang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San
Diego, La Jolla CA, USA
| | - Richard L. Hauger
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San
Diego, La Jolla CA, USA
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San
Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Michael J. Lyons
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston
University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ruth E. McKenzie
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston
University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mark E. Sanderson-Cimino
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San
Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San
Diego, La Jolla CA, USA
| | - Hong Xian
- Department of Biostatistics, St Louis University, St.
Louis, MO, USA
| | - William S. Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San
Diego, La Jolla CA, USA
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San
Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of
California San Diego, La Jolla CA, USA
| | - Carol E. Franz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San
Diego, La Jolla CA, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of
California San Diego, La Jolla CA, USA
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Huo Z, Rana BK, Elman JA, Dong R, Engelman CD, Johnson SC, Lyons MJ, Franz CE, Kremen WS, Zhao J. Metabolic Profiling of Cognitive Aging in Midlife. Front Aging Neurosci 2020; 12:555850. [PMID: 33250761 PMCID: PMC7674168 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.555850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's dementia (AD) begins many years before its clinical symptoms. Metabolic dysfunction represents a core feature of AD and cognitive impairment, but few metabolomic studies have focused on cognitive aging in midlife. Using an untargeted metabolomics approach, we identified metabolic predictors of cognitive aging in midlife using fasting plasma sample from 30 middle-aged (mean age 57.2), male-male twin pairs enrolled in the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging (VETSA). For all twin pairs, one twin developed incident MCI, whereas his co-twin brother remained to be cognitively normal during an average 5.5-year follow-up. Linear mixed model was used to identify metabolites predictive of MCI conversion or cognitive change over time, adjusting for traditional risk factors. Results from twins were replicated in an independent cohort of middle-aged adults (mean age 59.1) in the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention (WRAP). Results in twins showed that higher baseline levels of four plasma metabolites, including sphingomyelin (d18:1/20:1 and d18:2/20:0), sphingomyelin (d18:1/22:1, d18:2/22:0, and d16:1/24:1), DAG (18:2/20:4), and hydroxy-CMPF, were significantly associated with a slower decrease in one or more domains of cognitive function. The association of sphingomyelin (d18:1/20:1 and d18:2/20:0) was replicated in WRAP. Our results support that metabolic perturbation occurs many years before cognitive impairment and plasma metabolites may serve as early biomarkers for prediction or monitoring of cognitive aging and AD in midlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiguang Huo
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Brinda K. Rana
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Jeremy A. Elman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Ruocheng Dong
- Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Corinne D. Engelman
- Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, United States
- Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, United States
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Sterling C. Johnson
- Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, United States
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Michael J. Lyons
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Carol E. Franz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - William S. Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Jinying Zhao
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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Genetic Variation in the Androgen Receptor Modifies the Association Between Testosterone and Vitality in Middle-Aged Men. J Sex Med 2020; 17:2351-2361. [PMID: 33011098 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low vitality is a common symptom of testosterone deficiency; however, clinical trial results remain inconclusive regarding the responsiveness of this symptom to hormone replacement. AIM The aim of the present study was to determine if the relationship between circulating testosterone levels and vitality would be moderated by the CAG repeat length in the androgen receptor (AR) gene, which influences the receptor's sensitivity to testosterone. METHODS We examined 676 men in the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging when they were, on average, 55.4 years old (SD = 2.5). Salivary testosterone levels were measured by using 3 samples collected at waking on 3 nonconsecutive days. The average testosterone level was classified as low, normal, or high based on 1-SD cutoffs. Analyses were conducted using multilevel, mixed linear models, which accounted for the nonindependence of the twin data, and adjusted for the effects of age, ethnicity, BMI, chronic health conditions, depressive symptoms, and sleep quality. OUTCOMES Vitality was measured using the 36-item Short Form (SF-36) vitality subscale. RESULTS We observed a significant interaction between salivary testosterone and the AR-CAG repeat length. When the repeat length was short, men with low testosterone had significantly lower vitality. As the AR-CAG repeat length increased, the magnitude of the testosterone effect decreased. CLINICAL TRANSLATION The observed interaction between testosterone and variation in the AR gene suggests that men with more sensitive ARs, as indicated by a shorter AR-CAG repeat, are more likely to experience symptoms of age-related testosterone deficiency. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS Strengths of the present study include our use of a large community-based sample, the use of multiple testosterone measurements, and the availability of a comprehensive set of covariates that may impact the association of interest. Limitations include the homogeneous nature of the sample with respect to ethnicity, the brevity of the 36-item Short Form vitality subscale, and our inability to establish change in testosterone levels because of the cross-sectional nature of data. CONCLUSIONS The association between testosterone and vitality appears to be clinically meaningful and is in part dependent on variation in the AR gene. Panizzon MS, Bree K, Hsieh T-C, et al. Genetic Variation in the Androgen Receptor Modifies the Association Between Testosterone and Vitality in Middle-Aged Men. J Sex Med 2020;17:2351-2361.
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32
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Franz CE, Hatton SN, Hauger RL, Kredlow MA, Dale AM, Eyler L, McEvoy LK, Fennema-Notestine C, Hagler D, Jacobson KC, McKenzie RE, Panizzon MS, Gustavson DE, Xian H, Toomey R, Beck A, Stevens S, Tu X, Lyons MJ, Kremen WS. Posttraumatic stress symptom persistence across 24 years: association with brain structures. Brain Imaging Behav 2020; 14:1208-1220. [PMID: 30830577 PMCID: PMC6722032 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-019-00059-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is known to persist, eliciting early medical co-morbidity, and accelerated aging. Although PTSD diagnosis has been found to be associated with smaller volume in multiple brain regions, posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms and their associations with brain morphometry are rarely assessed over long periods of time. We predicted that persistent PTS symptoms across ~24 years would be inversely associated with hippocampal, amygdala, anterior cingulate volumes, and hippocampal occupancy (HOC = hippocampal volume/[hippocampal volume + inferior lateral ventricle volume]) in late middle age. Exploratory analyses examined prefrontal regions. We assessed PTS symptoms in 247 men at average ages 38 (time 1) and 62 (time 2). All were trauma-exposed prior to time 1. Brain volumes were assessed at time 2 using 3 T structural magnetic resonance imaging. Symptoms were correlated over time (r = 0.46 p < .0001). Higher PTS symptoms averaged over time and symptoms at time 1 were both associated with lower hippocampal, amygdala, rostral middle frontal gyrus (MFG), and medial orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) volumes, and a lower HOC ratio at time 2. Increased PTS symptomatology from time 1 to time 2 was associated with smaller hippocampal volume. Results for hippocampal, rostral MFG and medial OFC remained significant after omitting individuals above the threshold for PTSD diagnosis. Even at sub-diagnostic threshold levels, PTS symptoms were present decades after trauma exposure in parallel with highly correlated structural deficits in brain regions regulating stress responsivity and adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol E Franz
- Department of Psychiatry MC 0738, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
| | - Sean N Hatton
- Department of Psychiatry MC 0738, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Richard L Hauger
- Department of Psychiatry MC 0738, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - M Alexandra Kredlow
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Anders M Dale
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Lisa Eyler
- Department of Psychiatry MC 0738, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Linda K McEvoy
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Christine Fennema-Notestine
- Department of Psychiatry MC 0738, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Donald Hagler
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Kristen C Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Ruth E McKenzie
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Matthew S Panizzon
- Department of Psychiatry MC 0738, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Daniel E Gustavson
- Department of Psychiatry MC 0738, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Hong Xian
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, St Louis University, St Louis, MO, 60134, USA
| | - Rosemary Toomey
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Asad Beck
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, 92182, USA
| | - Samantha Stevens
- Department of Psychiatry MC 0738, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Xin Tu
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Michael J Lyons
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - William S Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry MC 0738, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
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Gustavson DE, Franz CE, Panizzon MS, Lyons MJ, Kremen WS. Internalizing and externalizing psychopathology in middle age: genetic and environmental architecture and stability of symptoms over 15 to 20 years. Psychol Med 2020; 50:1530-1538. [PMID: 31258104 PMCID: PMC6938573 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291719001533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Internalizing and externalizing psychopathology factors explain much of the covariance among psychiatric conditions, especially at the level of genetic risk. However, few studies have examined internalizing and externalizing factors in middle-aged samples, especially their ability to predict later symptoms across midlife. The goals of the current study were (i) to quantify the genetic and environmental influences on internalizing and externalizing psychopathology in individuals in their early 40s, and (ii) examine the extent to which these genetic and environmental influences predict self-reported measures of internalizing and externalizing symptoms 15-20 years later. METHOD 1484 male twins completed diagnostic interviews of psychopathology at mean age 41 and self-reported measures of anxiety, depression, substance use, and related variables at up to two time-points in late middle age (mean ages 56 and 62). RESULTS Structural equation modeling of the diagnostic interviews confirmed that internalizing and externalizing factors accounted for most of the genetic variance in individual disorders, with substantial genetic (ra = 0.70) and environmental (re = 0.77) correlations between the factors. Internalizing psychopathology at age 41 was correlated with latent factors capturing anxiety, depression, and/or post-traumatic stress symptoms at ages 56 (r = 0.51) and 62 (r = 0.43). Externalizing psychopathology at age 41 was correlated r = 0.67 with a latent factor capturing aggression, tobacco use, and alcohol use at age 56. Stability of both factors was driven by genetic influences. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate the considerable stability of internalizing and externalizing psychopathology symptoms across middle age, especially their genetic influences. Diagnostic interviews effectively predict self-reported symptoms and behaviors 15-20 years later.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel E Gustavson
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Behavioral Genetics of Aging, University of California, La Jolla, USA
| | - Carol E Franz
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Behavioral Genetics of Aging, University of California, La Jolla, USA
| | - Matthew S Panizzon
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Behavioral Genetics of Aging, University of California, La Jolla, USA
| | - Michael J Lyons
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, USA
| | - William S Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Behavioral Genetics of Aging, University of California, La Jolla, USA
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, USA
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34
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Stevens SM, Gustavson DE, Fang B, Tu X, Logue M, Lyons MJ, Reynolds CA, Kremen WS, Franz CE. Predicting Health-Related Quality of Life in Trauma-Exposed Male Veterans in Late Midlife: A 20 Year Longitudinal Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17124554. [PMID: 32599875 PMCID: PMC7345107 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17124554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Trauma-exposed adults with high levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) report poorer health-related quality of life (HRQOL), but less is known about the persistence of this relationship over time. Participants from the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging reported on PTSS, health, and sociodemographic characteristics at average age 38; 775 participants reported having been exposed to trauma. Later, at average ages 56 and 62, mental and physical HRQOL were assessed with the Short-Form 36. Premorbid risk for anxiety/neuroticism was evaluated with a polygenic risk score derived from a large genome-wide association study meta-analysis. In multivariate mixed models, having higher levels of PTSS, poorer self-rated health, lower income, and less education at age 38 were associated with worse physical and mental HRQOL two decades later. Chronic health problems at age 38 predicted midlife physical but not mental HRQOL. Although genetic risk for neuroticism was correlated with HRQOL and PTSS, it was no longer significant in multivariate models. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) predicts morbidity and mortality independently of objective health measures; early interventions may help to mitigate the ongoing impact of trauma on quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M. Stevens
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.M.S.); (D.E.G.); (B.F.); (W.S.K.)
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA 16801, USA
| | - Daniel E. Gustavson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.M.S.); (D.E.G.); (B.F.); (W.S.K.)
- Department of Otolaryngology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Bin Fang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.M.S.); (D.E.G.); (B.F.); (W.S.K.)
| | - Xin Tu
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA;
| | - Mark Logue
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (M.L.); (M.J.L.)
| | - Michael J. Lyons
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (M.L.); (M.J.L.)
| | - Chandra A. Reynolds
- Department of Psychology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA;
| | - William S. Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.M.S.); (D.E.G.); (B.F.); (W.S.K.)
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Carol E. Franz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (S.M.S.); (D.E.G.); (B.F.); (W.S.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-858-822-1793
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Xian H, Boutwell B, Reynolds CA, Lew D, Logue M, Gustavson DE, Kavish N, Panizzon MS, Tu X, Toomey R, Puckett OK, Elman JA, Jacobson KC, Lyons MJ, Kremen WS, Franz CE. Genetic Underpinnings of Increased BMI and Its Association With Late Midlife Cognitive Abilities. Gerontol Geriatr Med 2020; 6:2333721420925267. [PMID: 32537479 PMCID: PMC7268925 DOI: 10.1177/2333721420925267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: First, we test for differences in various cognitive
abilities across trajectories of body mass index (BMI) over the later life
course. Second, we examine whether genetic risk factors for unhealthy
BMIs—assessed via polygenic risk scores (PRS)—predict cognitive abilities in
late-life. Methods: The study used a longitudinal sample of Vietnam
veteran males to explore the associations between BMI trajectories, measured
across four time points, and later cognitive abilities. The sample of 977
individuals was drawn from the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging. Cognitive
abilities evaluated included executive function, abstract reasoning, episodic
memory, processing speed, verbal fluency, and visual spatial ability. Multilevel
linear regression models were used to estimate the associations between BMI
trajectories and cognitive abilities. Then, BMI PRS was added to the models to
evaluate polygenic associations with cognitive abilities. Results:
There were no significant differences in cognitive ability between any of the
BMI trajectory groups. There was a significant inverse relationship between
BMI-PRS and several cognitive ability measures. Discussion: While
no associations emerged for BMI trajectories and cognitive abilities at the
phenotypic levels, BMI PRS measures did correlate with key cognitive domains.
Our results suggest possible polygenic linkages cutting across key components of
the central and peripheral nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Mark Logue
- VA Boston Healthcare System, MA, USA.,Boston University School of Medicine, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Xin Tu
- University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - William S Kremen
- University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Carol E Franz
- University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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Gustavson DE, Elman JA, Sanderson‐Cimino M, Franz CE, Panizzon MS, Jak AJ, Reynolds CA, Neale MC, Lyons MJ, Kremen WS. Extensive memory testing improves prediction of progression to MCI in late middle age. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2020; 12:e12004. [PMID: 32284960 PMCID: PMC7148418 DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Predicting risk for Alzheimer's disease when most people are likely still biomarker negative would aid earlier identification. We hypothesized that combining multiple memory tests and scores in middle-aged adults would provide useful, and non-invasive, prediction of 6-year progression to MCI. METHODS We examined 849 men who were cognitively normal at baseline (mean age ± SD = 55.69 ± 2.45). RESULTS California Verbal Learning Test learning trials was the best individual predictor of amnestic MCI (OR = 4.75). A latent factor incorporating seven measures across three memory tests provided much stronger prediction (OR = 9.88). This compared favorably with biomarker-based prediction in a study of much older adults. DISCUSSION Neuropsychological tests are sensitive and early indicators of MCI risk at an age when few individuals are likely to have yet become biomarker positive. The single best measures may appear time- and cost-effective, but 30 additional minutes of testing and use of multiple scores within tests provide substantially improved prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel E. Gustavson
- Division of Genetic MedicineDepartment of MedicineVanderbilt University Medical CenterNashvilleTennessee
- Department of PsychiatryCenter for Behavior Genetics of AgingUniversity of CaliforniaSan DiegoLa JollaCalifornia
| | - Jeremy A. Elman
- Department of PsychiatryCenter for Behavior Genetics of AgingUniversity of CaliforniaSan DiegoLa JollaCalifornia
| | - Mark Sanderson‐Cimino
- Department of PsychiatryCenter for Behavior Genetics of AgingUniversity of CaliforniaSan DiegoLa JollaCalifornia
| | - Carol E. Franz
- Department of PsychiatryCenter for Behavior Genetics of AgingUniversity of CaliforniaSan DiegoLa JollaCalifornia
| | - Matthew S. Panizzon
- Department of PsychiatryCenter for Behavior Genetics of AgingUniversity of CaliforniaSan DiegoLa JollaCalifornia
| | - Amy J. Jak
- Department of PsychiatryCenter for Behavior Genetics of AgingUniversity of CaliforniaSan DiegoLa JollaCalifornia
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental HealthVeterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare SystemLa JollaCalifornia
| | | | - Michael C. Neale
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavior GeneticsVirginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondVirginia
| | - Michael J. Lyons
- Department of Psychological and Brain SciencesBoston UniversityBostonMassachusetts
| | - William S. Kremen
- Department of PsychiatryCenter for Behavior Genetics of AgingUniversity of CaliforniaSan DiegoLa JollaCalifornia
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental HealthVeterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare SystemLa JollaCalifornia
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Forsberg C, Liu C, Mori A, Tsai M, Sporleder J, Moore K, Goldberg J, Smith N. Cohort Profile: The Vietnam Era Twin Registry (VET Registry). Int J Epidemiol 2020; 49:22-22d. [PMID: 31768518 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyz217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Forsberg
- Seattle Epidemiologic Research and Information Center (ERIC), VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Cindy Liu
- Seattle Epidemiologic Research and Information Center (ERIC), VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alaina Mori
- VHA Primary Care Analytics Team, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Melyssa Tsai
- Seattle Epidemiologic Research and Information Center (ERIC), VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jennifer Sporleder
- Seattle Epidemiologic Research and Information Center (ERIC), VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kathryn Moore
- Seattle Epidemiologic Research and Information Center (ERIC), VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jack Goldberg
- Seattle Epidemiologic Research and Information Center (ERIC), VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nicholas Smith
- Seattle Epidemiologic Research and Information Center (ERIC), VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Abstract
The Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging (VETSA) is a longitudinal behavioral genetic study with a primary focus on cognitive and brain aging in men, particularly early identification of risk for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). It comprises a subset of over 1600 twins from the Vietnam Era Twin Registry. Twins live all over the USA. Assessments began when participants were in their 50s. Follow-ups were conducted every 5-6 years, and wave 3 has been completed as of this writing. The age range of participants is narrow (about 10 years). An extensive neurocognitive test battery has added precision in assessing differences in middle-aged adults, and predicting progression to MCI. Young adult cognitive test data (at an average age of 20 years) provide a means of disentangling aging effects from longstanding differences. Genome wide genotyping and plasma assays of AD biomarkers from waves 1 and 3 were conducted in wave 3. These features make the VETSA ideal for studying the heterogeneity of within-individual trajectories from midlife to old age, and for early detection of risk factors for cognitive decline.
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Wadsworth SJ, Corley RP, Munoz E, Trubenstein BP, Knaap E, DeFries JC, Plomin R, Reynolds CA. CATSLife: A Study of Lifespan Behavioral Development and Cognitive Functioning. Twin Res Hum Genet 2019; 22:695-706. [PMID: 31547893 PMCID: PMC7487141 DOI: 10.1017/thg.2019.49] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this update is to provide the most current information about both the Colorado Adoption Project (CAP) and the Longitudinal Twin Study (LTS) and to introduce the Colorado Adoption/Twin Study of Lifespan behavioral development and cognitive aging (CATSLife), a product of their merger and a unique study of lifespan behavioral development and cognitive aging. The primary objective of CATSLife is to assess the unique saliency of early childhood genetic and environmental factors to adult cognitive maintenance and change, as well as proximal influences and innovations that emerge across development. CATSLife is currently assessing up to 1600 individuals on the cusp of middle age, targeting those between 30 and 40 years of age. The ongoing CATSLife data collection is described as well as the longitudinal data available from the earlier CAP and LTS assessments. We illustrate CATSLife via current projects and publications, highlighting the measurement of genetic, biochemical, social, sociodemographic and environmental indices, including geospatial features, and their impact on cognitive maintenance in middle adulthood. CATSLife provides an unparalleled opportunity to assess prospectively the etiologies of cognitive change and test the saliency of early childhood versus proximal influences on the genesis of cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally J. Wadsworth
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO USA
| | - Robin P. Corley
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO USA
| | - Elizabeth Munoz
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA USA
| | - B. Paige Trubenstein
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA USA
| | - Elijah Knaap
- Center for Geospatial Sciences, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA USA
| | - John C. DeFries
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO USA
| | - Robert Plomin
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Chandra A. Reynolds
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA USA
- Center for Geospatial Sciences, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA USA
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Pedersen NL, Gatz M, Finch BK, Finkel D, Butler DA, Dahl Aslan A, Franz CE, Kaprio J, Lapham S, McGue M, Mosing MA, Neiderhiser J, Nygaard M, Panizzon M, Prescott CA, Reynolds CA, Sachdev P, Whitfield KE. IGEMS: The Consortium on Interplay of Genes and Environment Across Multiple Studies - An Update. Twin Res Hum Genet 2019; 22:809-816. [PMID: 31544729 PMCID: PMC7056501 DOI: 10.1017/thg.2019.76] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The Interplay of Genes and Environment across Multiple Studies (IGEMS) is a consortium of 18 twin studies from 5 different countries (Sweden, Denmark, Finland, United States, and Australia) established to explore the nature of gene-environment (GE) interplay in functioning across the adult lifespan. Fifteen of the studies are longitudinal, with follow-up as long as 59 years after baseline. The combined data from over 76,000 participants aged 14-103 at intake (including over 10,000 monozygotic and over 17,000 dizygotic twin pairs) support two primary research emphases: (1) investigation of models of GE interplay of early life adversity, and social factors at micro and macro environmental levels and with diverse outcomes, including mortality, physical functioning and psychological functioning; and (2) improved understanding of risk and protective factors for dementia by incorporating unmeasured and measured genetic factors with a wide range of exposures measured in young adulthood, midlife and later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy L Pedersen
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Margaret Gatz
- Center for Economic and Social Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Brian K Finch
- Center for Economic and Social Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Deborah Finkel
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, IN, USA
| | - David A Butler
- Office of Military and Veterans Health, Health and Medicine Division, The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Anna Dahl Aslan
- Institute of Gerontology and Aging Research Network - Jönköping (ARN-J), School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Carol E Franz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jaakko Kaprio
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine & Institute for Molecular Medicine FIMM, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Susan Lapham
- Research and Evaluation, American Institutes for Research, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Matt McGue
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Miriam A Mosing
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jenae Neiderhiser
- Department of Psychology, Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Marianne Nygaard
- The Danish Twin Registry, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Matthew Panizzon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Carol A Prescott
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Chandra A Reynolds
- Department of Psychology, University of California - Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Perminder Sachdev
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Elman JA, Panizzon MS, Logue MW, Gillespie NA, Neale MC, Reynolds CA, Gustavson DE, Rana BK, Andreassen OA, Dale AM, Franz CE, Lyons MJ, Kremen WS. Genetic risk for coronary heart disease alters the influence of Alzheimer's genetic risk on mild cognitive impairment. Neurobiol Aging 2019; 84:237.e5-237.e12. [PMID: 31272697 PMCID: PMC6899214 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Revised: 05/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Understanding genetic influences on Alzheimer's disease (AD) may improve early identification. AD polygenic risk scores (AD-PRSs) are associated with increased odds of AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Additional sources of genetic risk may also contribute to disease outcomes. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a risk factor for AD, interacts with AD pathology, and is also heritable. We showed that incidence-based and prevalence-based CAD-PRSs moderate the association between the AD-PRS and MCI, but in opposing directions. Higher incidence-based CAD-PRSs interacted with the AD-PRS to further increase MCI risk. Conversely, the AD-PRS was predictive of MCI when prevalence-based CAD-PRSs were low. The latter finding is likely due to prevalent CAD cases being biased toward longer postevent survival times, perhaps selecting for protective loci that offset AD risk. These results demonstrate (1) the importance of examining multiple PRSs and their interactions; (2) how genetic risk for one disease can modify the impact of genetic risk for another; and (3) the importance of considering ascertainment procedures of GWAS used for genetic risk prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy A Elman
- Department of Psychiatry University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Matthew S Panizzon
- Department of Psychiatry University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mark W Logue
- National Center for PTSD: Behavioral Science Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and the Biomedical Genetics Section, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston MA, USA
| | - Nathan A Gillespie
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavior Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Michael C Neale
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavior Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | | | - Daniel E Gustavson
- Department of Psychiatry University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Brinda K Rana
- Department of Psychiatry University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anders M Dale
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Carol E Franz
- Department of Psychiatry University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Michael J Lyons
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - William S Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA, USA
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Kremen WS, Panizzon MS, Elman JA, Granholm EL, Andreassen OA, Dale AM, Gillespie NA, Gustavson DE, Logue MW, Lyons MJ, Neale MC, Reynolds CA, Whitsel N, Franz CE. Pupillary dilation responses as a midlife indicator of risk for Alzheimer's disease: association with Alzheimer's disease polygenic risk. Neurobiol Aging 2019; 83:114-121. [PMID: 31585363 PMCID: PMC6931134 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Locus coeruleus (LC) tau accumulation begins early. Targeting LC (dys)function might improve early identification for Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk. Pupillary responses during cognitive tasks are driven by the LC and index cognitive effort. Despite equivalent task performance, adults with mild cognitive impairment have greater pupil dilation/effort during digit span than cognitively normal (CN) individuals. We hypothesized that AD polygenic risk scores (AD-PRSs) would be associated with pupillary responses in middle-aged CN adults. Pupillary responses during digit span tasks were heritable (h2 = 0.30-0.36) in 1119 men aged 56-66 years. In a CN subset-all with comparable span capacities (n = 539)-higher AD-PRSs were associated with greater pupil dilation/effort in a high (9-digit) cognitive load condition (Cohen's d = 0.36 for upper vs. lower quartile of AD-PRS distribution). Results held up after controlling for APOE genotype. Results support pupillary response-and by inference, LC dysfunction-as a genetically mediated biomarker of early mild cognitive impairment/AD risk. In combination with other biomarkers, task-evoked pupillary responses may provide additional information for early screening of genetically at-risk individuals even before cognitive declines.
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Affiliation(s)
- William S Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Matthew S Panizzon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jeremy A Elman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Eric L Granholm
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Psychology Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anders M Dale
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Nathan A Gillespie
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavior Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Daniel E Gustavson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mark W Logue
- National Center for PTSD: Behavioral Science Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Biomedical Genetics Section, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael J Lyons
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael C Neale
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavior Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Chandra A Reynolds
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Nathan Whitsel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Carol E Franz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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Sanderson-Cimino M, Panizzon MS, Elman JA, Gustavson DE, Franz CE, Reynolds CA, Toomey R, Lyons MJ, Kremen WS. Genetic and environmental architecture of processing speed across midlife. Neuropsychology 2019; 33:862-871. [PMID: 31192653 PMCID: PMC6710143 DOI: 10.1037/neu0000551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Processing Speed (PS) is an important domain in cognitive aging that is characterized by multiple related but nonidentical abilities. Few studies have directly investigated the relationships among PS measures, and none have used genetically informed methods. In this study, we examined the relationship between measures of PS at up to two time points during middle age. METHOD We examined data from 1,262 middle-aged men when the sample was at a mean age of 56 and a mean age 62 years. Participants completed 6 measures of PS from three different cognitive tests. We used a genetically informative, confirmatory factor analytic approach to evaluate the phenotypic and genetic relationships cross-sectionally at both single time points and across time. RESULTS A higher-order common PS factor accounted for the covariance among three test-specific factors, and each test-specific factor accounted for the covariance between two observed measures. The general PS factor was explained primarily by genetic influences at both time points (a²age56 = .75, a²age62 = .64), and all test-specific factors were heritable (a² range: .45 to .65). Factor loadings from the test-specific factors to the general PS factor varied from λ = .46 to .82. The model was stable over time, although there were differing rates of phenotypic change among latent factors (.20 SD to .44 SD). Cross-time genetic correlations were near unity for all latent factors. CONCLUSION These results suggest that PS is highly heritable when considered at a latent variable level, and that there are different rates of change in tests of PS within this sample. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Sanderson-Cimino
- Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State/University of California, San Diego
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego
| | - Matthew S. Panizzon
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego
| | - Jeremy A. Elman
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego
| | - Daniel E. Gustavson
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego
| | - Carol E. Franz
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego
| | | | - Rosemary Toomey
- Department of Psychology and Brain Sciences, Boston University
| | | | - William S. Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System
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Franz CE, Xian H, Lew D, Hatton SN, Puckett O, Whitsel N, Beck A, Dale AM, Fang B, Fennema-Notestine C, Hauger RL, Jacobson KC, Lyons MJ, Reynolds CA, Kremen WS. Body mass trajectories and cortical thickness in middle-aged men: a 42-year longitudinal study starting in young adulthood. Neurobiol Aging 2019; 79:11-21. [PMID: 31026618 PMCID: PMC6591047 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Revised: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Evidence strongly suggests that being overweight or obese at midlife confers significantly higher risk for Alzheimer's disease and greater brain atrophy later in life. Few studies, however, examine associations between longitudinal changes in adiposity during early adulthood and later brain morphometry. Measures of body mass index (BMI) were collected in 373 men from the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging at average ages 20, 40, 56, and 62 years, yielding 2 BMI trajectories. We then examined associations between BMI phenotypes (trajectories, continuous BMI, obese/nonobese), cortical thickness, and white matter measures from structural magnetic resonance imaging at mean age 62 (time 4, range 56-66 years). Those on the obesity trajectory (N = 171) had a thinner cortex compared with the normal/lean trajectory (N = 202) in multiple frontal and temporal lobe bilateral regions of interest: superior, inferior, middle temporal gyri, temporal pole, fusiform gyrus, banks of the superior temporal sulcus, frontal pole, pars triangularis, caudal and rostral middle frontal gyri (all p < 0.05, false discovery rate corrected). Frontal lobe thinness tended to occur mainly in the right hemisphere. Results were similar for obese versus nonobese adults at age 62. There were no significant differences for white matter volume or abnormalities. Taken in the context of other research, these associations between brain structures and excess BMI at midlife suggest potential for increased risk for cognitive decline in later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol E. Franz
- Department of Psychiatry & Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla CA, USA
| | - Hong Xian
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Daphne Lew
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Sean N. Hatton
- Department of Psychiatry & Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla CA, USA
| | - Olivia Puckett
- Department of Psychiatry & Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla CA, USA
| | - Nathan Whitsel
- Department of Psychiatry & Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla CA, USA
| | - Asad Beck
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Anders M. Dale
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla CA, USA
| | - Bin Fang
- Department of Psychiatry & Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla CA, USA
| | - Christine Fennema-Notestine
- Department of Psychiatry & Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla CA, USA,Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla CA, USA
| | - Richard L. Hauger
- Department of Psychiatry & Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla CA, USA,Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, USA
| | - Kristen C. Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Michael J. Lyons
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chandra A. Reynolds
- Department of Psychology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - William S. Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry & Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla CA, USA,Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, USA
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45
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Logue MW, Panizzon MS, Elman JA, Gillespie NA, Hatton SN, Gustavson DE, Andreassen OA, Dale AM, Franz CE, Lyons MJ, Neale MC, Reynolds CA, Tu X, Kremen WS. Use of an Alzheimer's disease polygenic risk score to identify mild cognitive impairment in adults in their 50s. Mol Psychiatry 2019; 24:421-430. [PMID: 29487403 PMCID: PMC6110977 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-018-0030-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Revised: 11/02/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Early identification of younger, non-demented adults at elevated risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD) is crucial because the pathological process begins decades before dementia onset. Toward that end, we showed that an AD polygenic risk score (PRS) could identify mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in adults who were only in their 50s. Participants were 1176 white, non-Hispanic community-dwelling men of European ancestry in the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging (VETSA): 7% with amnestic MCI (aMCI); 4% with non-amnestic MCI (naMCI). Mean age was 56 years, with 89% <60 years old. Diagnosis was based on the Jak-Bondi actuarial/neuropsychological approach. We tested six P-value thresholds (0.05-0.50) for single nucleotide polymorphisms included in the ADPRS. After controlling for non-independence of twins and non-MCI factors that can affect cognition, higher PRSs were associated with significantly greater odds of having aMCI than being cognitively normal (odds ratios (ORs) = 1.36-1.43 for thresholds P < 0.20-0.50). The highest OR for the upper vs. lower quartile of the ADPRS distribution was 3.22. ORs remained significant after accounting for APOE-related SNPs from the ADPRS or directly genotyped APOE. Diabetes was associated with significantly increased odds of having naMCI (ORs = 3.10-3.41 for thresholds P < 0.05-0.50), consistent with naMCI having more vascular/inflammation components than aMCI. Analysis of sensitivity, specificity, and negative and positive predictive values supported some potential of ADPRSs for selecting participants in clinical trials aimed at early intervention. With participants 15+ years younger than most MCI samples, these findings are promising with regard to efforts to more effectively treat or slow AD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark W. Logue
- Research Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA,Biomedical Genetics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA,Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Matthew S. Panizzon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA,Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jeremy A. Elman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA,Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Nathan A. Gillespie
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavior Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Sean N. Hatton
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA,Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Daniel E. Gustavson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA,Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ole A. Andreassen
- NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine University of Oslo Oslo, Norway,Division of Mental Health and Addiction Oslo University Hospital Oslo, Norway
| | - Anders M. Dale
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA,Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA,Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA,Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Carol E. Franz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA,Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Michael J. Lyons
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael C. Neale
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavior Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Chandra A. Reynolds
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Xin Tu
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - William S. Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA,Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA,Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA, USA
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46
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Influence of young adult cognitive ability and additional education on later-life cognition. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:2021-2026. [PMID: 30670647 PMCID: PMC6369818 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1811537116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
How and when education improves cognitive capacity is an issue of profound societal importance. Education and later-life education-related factors, such as occupational complexity and engagement in cognitive-intellectual activities, are frequently considered indices of cognitive reserve, but whether their effects are truly causal remains unclear. In this study, after accounting for general cognitive ability (GCA) at an average age of 20 y, additional education, occupational complexity, or engagement in cognitive-intellectual activities accounted for little variance in late midlife cognitive functioning in men age 56-66 (n = 1009). Age 20 GCA accounted for 40% of variance in the same measure in late midlife and approximately 10% of variance in each of seven cognitive domains. The other factors each accounted for <1% of the variance in cognitive outcomes. The impact of these other factors likely reflects reverse causation-namely, downstream effects of early adult GCA. Supporting that idea, age 20 GCA, but not education, was associated with late midlife cortical surface area (n = 367). In our view, the most parsimonious explanation of our results, a meta-analysis of the impact of education, and epidemiologic studies of the Flynn effect is that intellectual capacity gains due to education plateau in late adolescence/early adulthood. Longitudinal studies with multiple cognitive assessments before completion of education would be needed to confirm this speculation. If cognitive gains reach an asymptote by early adulthood, then strengthening cognitive reserve and reducing later-life cognitive decline and dementia risk may really begin with improving educational quality and access in childhood and adolescence.
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48
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Kaup AR, Toomey R, Bangen KJ, Delano-Wood L, Yaffe K, Panizzon MS, Lyons MJ, Franz CE, Kremen WS. Interactive Effect of Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychiatric Symptoms on Cognition among Late Middle-Aged Men: Findings from the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging. J Neurotrauma 2019; 36:338-347. [PMID: 29978738 PMCID: PMC6338572 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2018.5695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depressive symptoms each increase the risk for cognitive impairment in older adults. We investigated whether TBI has long-term associations with cognition in late middle-aged men, and examined the role of current PTSD/depressive symptoms. Participants were 953 men (ages 56-66) from the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging (VETSA), who were classified by presence or absence of (1) history of TBI and (2) current elevated psychiatric symptoms (defined as PTSD or depressive symptoms above cutoffs). TBIs had occurred an average of 35 years prior to assessment. Participants completed cognitive testing examining nine domains. In mixed-effects models, we tested the effect of TBI on cognition including for interactions between TBI and elevated psychiatric symptoms. Models adjusted for age, pre-morbid cognitive ability assessed at average age 20 years, apolipoprotein E genotype, and substance abuse; 33% (n = 310) of participants had TBI, mostly mild and remote; and 23% (n = 72) of those with TBI and 18% (n = 117) without TBI had current elevated psychiatric symptoms. TBI and psychiatric symptoms had interactive effects on cognition, particularly executive functioning. Group comparison analyses showed that men with both TBI and psychiatric symptoms demonstrated deficits primarily in executive functioning. Cognition was largely unaffected in men with either risk factor in isolation. Among late middle-aged men, the combination of even mild and very remote TBI with current elevated psychiatric symptoms is associated with deficits in executive function and related abilities. Future longitudinal studies should investigate how TBI and psychiatric factors interact to impact brain aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison R. Kaup
- Research Service, San Francisco VA Health Care System and Department of Psychiatry, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California.,Address correspondence to: Allison R. Kaup, PhD, Research Service, San Francisco VA Health Care System and Department of Psychiatry, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, 4150 Clement Street (116B), San Francisco, CA, 94121
| | - Rosemary Toomey
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Katherine J. Bangen
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California.,Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Lisa Delano-Wood
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California.,Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California.,Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, La Jolla, California
| | - Kristine Yaffe
- Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, and Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco and San Francisco VA Health Care System, San Francisco, California
| | - Matthew S. Panizzon
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California.,Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California.,Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Michael J. Lyons
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Carol E. Franz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California.,Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - William S. Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California.,Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
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49
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Gustavson DE, Franz CE, Panizzon MS, Reynolds CA, Xian H, Jacobson KC, Toomey R, Lyons MJ, Kremen WS. Genetic and Environmental Associations Among Executive Functions, Trait Anxiety, and Depression Symptoms in Middle Age. Clin Psychol Sci 2019; 7:127-142. [PMID: 30923645 PMCID: PMC6433407 DOI: 10.1177/2167702618805075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Multiple executive functions (EFs) are associated with trait anxiety and depression symptoms, but it is unclear how genetic and/or environmental factors account for these associations, and if they are explained by general variance underlying multiple EFs (i.e., Common EF). In this study, 1207 male twins completed seven EF tasks and measures of trait anxiety and depression symptoms at average age 62. The Common EF factor was associated with both anxiety (r= -.25) and depression symptoms (r= -.35). Anxiety and depression had near complete genetic overlap (r g=.96). Genetic influences shared with depression accounted for 83% of the phenotypic correlation between anxiety and Common EF. For depression, the phenotypic correlation with Common EF was explained by genetic influences shared with anxiety (69%), but also nonshared environmental influences distinct from anxiety (20%). These results suggest that genetic influences on Common EF play a role in the observed genetic overlap between anxiety and depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel E Gustavson
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego
| | - Carol E Franz
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego
| | - Matthew S Panizzon
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego
| | | | - Hong Xian
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Louis University and Clinical Epidemiology Center, Veterans Affairs St. Louis Healthcare System
| | - Kristen C Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago
| | - Rosemary Toomey
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University
| | - Michael J Lyons
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University
| | - William S Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego and Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System
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50
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Elman JA, Panizzon MS, Gillespie NA, Hagler DJ, Fennema‐Notestine C, Eyler LT, McEvoy LK, Neale MC, Lyons MJ, Franz CE, Dale AM, Kremen WS. Genetic architecture of hippocampal subfields on standard resolution MRI: How the parts relate to the whole. Hum Brain Mapp 2018; 40:1528-1540. [PMID: 30430703 PMCID: PMC6397064 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Revised: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The human hippocampus can be subdivided into subfields with unique functional properties and differential vulnerability to disease or neuropsychiatric conditions. Identifying genes that confer susceptibility to such processes is an important goal in developing treatments. Recent advances in automatic subfield segmentation from magnetic resonance images make it possible to use these measures as phenotypes in large-scale genome-wide association studies. Such analyses are likely to rely largely on standard resolution (~1 mm isotropic) T1 -weighted images acquired on 3.0T scanners. Determining whether the genetic architecture of subfields can be detected from such images is therefore an important step. We used Freesurfer v6.0 to segment hippocampal subfields in two large twin studies, the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging and the Human Connectome Project. We estimated heritability of subfields and the genetic overlap with total hippocampal volume. Heritability was similar across samples, but little genetic variance remained after accounting for genetic influences on total hippocampal volume. Importantly, we examined genetic relationships between subfields to determine whether subfields can be grouped based on a smaller number of underlying, genetically independent factors. We identified three genetic factors in both samples, but the high degree of cross loadings precluded formation of genetically distinct groupings of subfields. These results confirm the reliability of Freesurfer v6.0 generated subfields across samples for phenotypic analyses. However, the current results suggest that it will be difficult for large-scale genetic analyses to identify subfield-specific genes that are distinct from both total hippocampal volume and other subfields using segmentations generated from standard resolution T1 -weighted images.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy A. Elman
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of California San DiegoSan DiegoCalifornia,Center for Behavior Genetics of AgingUniversity of California San DiegoSan DiegoCalifornia
| | - Matthew S. Panizzon
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of California San DiegoSan DiegoCalifornia,Center for Behavior Genetics of AgingUniversity of California San DiegoSan DiegoCalifornia
| | - Nathan A. Gillespie
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavior GeneticsVirginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondVirginia
| | - Donald J. Hagler
- Department of RadiologyUniversity of California San DiegoSan DiegoCalifornia
| | - Christine Fennema‐Notestine
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of California San DiegoSan DiegoCalifornia,Department of RadiologyUniversity of California San DiegoSan DiegoCalifornia
| | - Lisa T. Eyler
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of California San DiegoSan DiegoCalifornia,VA San Diego Health Care SystemSan DiegoCalifornia
| | - Linda K. McEvoy
- Department of RadiologyUniversity of California San DiegoSan DiegoCalifornia
| | - Michael C. Neale
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavior GeneticsVirginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondVirginia
| | - Michael J. Lyons
- Department of Psychological and Brain SciencesBoston UniversityBostonMassachusetts
| | - Carol E. Franz
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of California San DiegoSan DiegoCalifornia,Center for Behavior Genetics of AgingUniversity of California San DiegoSan DiegoCalifornia
| | - Anders M. Dale
- Department of RadiologyUniversity of California San DiegoSan DiegoCalifornia,Department of NeurosciencesUniversity of California San DiegoSan DiegoCalifornia
| | - William S. Kremen
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of California San DiegoSan DiegoCalifornia,Center for Behavior Genetics of AgingUniversity of California San DiegoSan DiegoCalifornia,Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental HealthVA San Diego Health Care SystemSan DiegoCalifornia
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