1
|
Bruellman R, Pahlen S, Ellingson JM, Corley RP, Wadsworth SJ, Reynolds CA. A twin-driven analysis on early aging biomarkers and associations with sitting-time and physical activity. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0308660. [PMID: 39259714 PMCID: PMC11389938 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0308660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current physical activity guidelines may be insufficient to address health consequences in a world increasing in sedentary behavior. Physical activity is a key lifestyle factor to promote healthy aging, but few studies examine activity in conjunction with sitting. We examine how activity intensity and sitting behavior influence health and the extent to which physical activity might counter sitting. METHODS We analyzed data from the Colorado Adoption/Twin Study of Lifespan behavioral development and cognitive aging (CATSLife) in adults aged 28-49 years (M = 33.16, SD = 4.93). We fit a linear mixed-effect model for body mass index (BMI) and total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein ratio (TC/HDL). Leveraging the co-twin control approach, we explore the trade-off between sitting and physical activity. RESULTS Across established adulthood, TC/HDL and BMI demonstrated increasing age trends with prolonged sitting and vigorous activity inversely associated. Moreover, after considering sitting time, we found an age-equivalent benefit of vigorous exercise where those performing 30 minutes daily had expected TC/HDL and BMI estimates that mirrored sedentary individuals 5 and 10 years younger, respectively. Co-twin control analysis suggests partial exposure effects for TC/HDL, indicating greater vigorous activity may counter sitting-health effects but with diminishing returns. CONCLUSIONS Our findings support the counteracting influence of prolonged sitting and physical activity on indicators of cardiovascular and metabolic health. A compensating role of vigorous activity on sitting health links is indicated while reducing sitting time appears paramount. Public health initiatives should consider sitting and vigorous activity in tandem in guidelines to promote health maintenance and combat accelerated aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Bruellman
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Shandell Pahlen
- Department of Psychology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Jarrod M Ellingson
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Robin P Corley
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Sally J Wadsworth
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Chandra A Reynolds
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
- Department of Psychology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gustavson DE, Stern EF, Reynolds CA, Grotzinger AD, Corley RP, Wadsworth SJ, Rhee SH, Friedman NP. Evidence for strong genetic correlations among internalizing psychopathology and related self-reported measures using both genomic and twin/adoptive approaches. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND CLINICAL SCIENCE 2024; 133:347-357. [PMID: 38722592 PMCID: PMC11232111 DOI: 10.1037/abn0000905] [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] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
The internalizing construct captures shared variance underlying risk for mood and anxiety disorders. Internalizing factors based on diagnoses (or symptoms) of major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) are well established. Studies have also integrated self-reported measures of associated traits (e.g., questionnaires assessing neuroticism, worry, and rumination) onto these factors, despite having not tested the assumption that these measures truly capture the same sets of risk factors. This study examined the overlap among both sets of measures using converging approaches. First, using genomic structural equation modeling, we constructed internalizing factors based on genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of internalizing diagnoses (e.g., MDD) and traits associated with internalizing (neuroticism, loneliness, and reverse-scored subjective well-being). Results indicated the two factors were highly (rg = .79) but not perfectly genetically correlated (rg < 1.0, p < .001). Second, we constructed similar latent factors in a combined twin/adoption sample of adults from the Colorado Adoption/Twin Study of Lifespan Behavioral Development and Cognitive Aging. Again, both factors demonstrated strong overlap at the level of genetic (rg = .76, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.40, 0.97]) and nonshared environmental influences (re = .80, 95% CI [0.53, 1.0]). Shared environmental influences were estimated near zero for both factors. Our findings are consistent with current frameworks of psychopathology, though they suggest there are some unique genetic influences captured by internalizing diagnosis compared to trait measures, with potentially more nonadditive genetic influences on trait measures. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel E. Gustavson
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
| | - Elisa F. Stern
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
| | - Chandra A. Reynolds
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
| | - Andrew D. Grotzinger
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
| | - Robin P. Corley
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
| | - Sally J. Wadsworth
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
| | - Soo H. Rhee
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
| | - Naomi P. Friedman
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zheng A, Friedman NP, Gustavson DE, Corley RP, Wadsworth SJ, Reynolds CA. Lifestyle and psychosocial associations with cognition at the cusp of midlife using twins and siblings. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2024; 16:e12609. [PMID: 39040465 PMCID: PMC11262029 DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This study investigates the relationship between cognitive functioning and 59 modifiable and intrinsic factors at the cusp of midlife. METHODS We analyzed data from 1221 participants in the Colorado Adoption/Twin Study of Lifespan behavioral development and cognitive aging (CATSLife; Mage = 33.20, %Female = 52.74). We assessed the impact of 59 factors on cognitive functioning using regularized regression and co-twin control models, controlling for earlier-life cognitive functioning and gray matter volume. RESULTS Eight robust factors were identified, including education attainment, cognitive complexity, purpose-in-life, and smoking status. Twins reporting higher levels of cognitive complexity and purpose-in-life showed better cognitive performance than their cotwin, while smoking was negatively associated. Using meta-analytically derived effect size threshold, we additionally identified that twins experiencing more financial difficulty tend to perform less well compared with their cotwin. DISCUSSION The findings highlight the early midlife link between cognitive functioning and lifestyle/psychological factors, beyond prior cognitive performance, brain status, genetic and familial confounders. Our results further highlight the potential of established adulthood as a crucial window for dementia prevention interventions targeting lifestyle and psychosocial factors. Highlights Cog complexity(+), purpose-in-life(+) were associated with cognition in early midlife.Smoking(-) was also associated with cognition in early midlife.Results were consistent controlling for genetic and environmental confounds.Association between EA and cognition might be mostly genetic and familial confounded.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anqing Zheng
- Institute for Behavioral GeneticsUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
- Department of PsychologyThe University of CaliforniaRiversideCaliforniaUSA
| | - Naomi P. Friedman
- Institute for Behavioral GeneticsUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
- Department of Psychology and NeuroscienceUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - Daniel E. Gustavson
- Institute for Behavioral GeneticsUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
- Department of Psychology and NeuroscienceUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - Robin P. Corley
- Institute for Behavioral GeneticsUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - Sally J. Wadsworth
- Institute for Behavioral GeneticsUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - Chandra A. Reynolds
- Institute for Behavioral GeneticsUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
- Department of PsychologyThe University of CaliforniaRiversideCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Psychology and NeuroscienceUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Luna MG, Pahlen S, Corley RP, Wadsworth SJ, Reynolds CA. Frailty and Processing Speed Performance at the Cusp of Midlife in CATSLife. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2023; 78:1834-1842. [PMID: 37480567 PMCID: PMC10645312 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbad102] [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: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 07/24/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Frailty is not an end state of aging, but rather represents physiological vulnerability across multiple systems that unfolds across adulthood. However, examinations of frailty at the midlife transition, and how frailty may impact other age-sensitive traits, such as processing speed (PS), remain scarce. Our research aims were to examine frailty and frailty-speed associations before midlife, a ripe developmental period for healthy aging interventions. METHODS Using data from the Colorado Adoption/Twin Study of Lifespan behavioral development and cognitive aging (N = 1,215; Mage = 33.23 years; standard deviation = 4.98), we constructed 25-item (FI25) and 30-item (FI30) frailty indices. PS was measured using the Colorado Perceptual Speed task and WAIS-III Digit Symbol (DS) subtest. Multilevel models accounted for clustering among siblings and adjusted for sex, race, ethnicity, adoption status, educational attainment, and age. RESULTS Reliability of FI measures was apparent from strong intraclass correlations (ICCs) among identical twin siblings, although ICC patterns across all siblings suggested that FI variability may include nonadditive genetic contributions. Higher FI was associated with poorer PS performance but was significant for DS only (BFI25 = -1.17, p = .001, d = -0.12; BFI30 = -1.21, p = .001, d = -0.12). Furthermore, the negative frailty-DS association was moderated by age (BFI25×age = -0.14, p = .042; BFI30×age=-0.19, p = .008) where increasingly worse performance with higher frailty emerged at older ages. DISCUSSION Frailty is evident before midlife and associated with poorer PS, an association that magnifies with age. These findings help elucidate the interrelationship between indicators of frailty and cognitive performance for adults approaching midlife, an understudied period within life-span development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria G Luna
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Shandell Pahlen
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Robin P Corley
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Sally J Wadsworth
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Chandra A Reynolds
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ross JM, Ellingson JM, Frieser MJ, Corley RC, Hopfer CJ, Stallings MC, Wadsworth SJ, Reynolds CA, Hewitt JK. The effects of cannabis use on physical health: A co-twin control study. Drug Alcohol Depend 2022; 230:109200. [PMID: 34871975 PMCID: PMC8714702 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.109200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research on the influence of cannabis use on anthropometrics, cardiovascular and pulmonary function, and other indicators of physical health has reported mixed results. We examined whether cannabis frequency is associated with physical health outcomes phenotypically and after controlling for shared genetic and environmental factors via a longitudinal co-twin control design. METHODS We tested the phenotypic associations of adolescent, young adult, and adult cannabis frequency with adult physical health. Next, we ran multilevel models to test if significant phenotypic associations remained at the between-family and within-twin pair levels. Participants include 677 individual twins (308 twin pairs) aged 25-35. RESULTS At the phenotypic level, adolescent cannabis use was associated with less adult exercise engagement (b = - 0.846 min, p = .000). Adult cannabis use was associated with a lower resting heart rate (HR; b = - 0.170 bpm, p = .001) and more frequent appetite loss (b = 0.018, p = .000). Only between-family effects were significant for adolescent cannabis use and exercise engagement (b = - 1.147 min, p = .000) and adult cannabis use and appetite loss frequency (b = 0.041, p = .002). The total within-twin (b = - 0.184, p = .014), MZ only (b = - 0.304, p = .003), and between-family effects (b = - 0.164, p = .025) were significant between adult cannabis use and a lower resting HR, which persisted after controlling for familial confounds and other substance use. CONCLUSIONS The associations between cannabis use with exercise engagement and frequency of appetite loss are explained by familial confounding while the association between cannabis use and resting HR was not. These results do not support a causal association between cannabis use once a week and poorer physical health effects among adults aged 25-35.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J. Megan Ross
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
| | | | | | - Robin C. Corley
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder
| | | | - Michael C. Stallings
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder,Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder
| | | | | | - John K. Hewitt
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder,Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Gustavson DE, Friedman NP, Stallings MC, Reynolds CA, Coon H, Corley RP, Hewitt JK, Gordon RL. Musical instrument engagement in adolescence predicts verbal ability 4 years later: A twin and adoption study. Dev Psychol 2021; 57:1943-1957. [PMID: 34914455 PMCID: PMC8842509 DOI: 10.1037/dev0001245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Individual differences in music traits are heritable and correlated with the development of cognitive and communication skills, but little is known about whether diverse modes of music engagement (e.g., playing instruments vs. singing) reflect similar underlying genetic/environmental influences. Moreover, the biological etiology underlying the relationship between musicality and childhood language development is poorly understood. Here we explored genetic and environmental associations between music engagement and verbal ability in the Colorado Adoption/Twin Study of Lifespan behavioral development & cognitive aging (CATSLife). Adolescents (N = 1,684) completed measures of music engagement and intelligence at approximately age 12 and/or multiple tests of verbal ability at age 16. Structural equation models revealed that instrument engagement was highly heritable (a² = .78), with moderate heritability of singing (a² = .43) and dance engagement (a² = .66). Adolescent self-reported instrument engagement (but not singing or dance engagement) was genetically correlated with age 12 verbal intelligence and still was associated with age 16 verbal ability, even when controlling for age 12 full-scale intelligence, providing evidence for a longitudinal relationship between music engagement and language beyond shared general cognitive processes. Together, these novel findings suggest that shared genetic influences in part accounts for phenotypic associations between music engagement and language, but there may also be some (weak) direct benefits of music engagement on later language abilities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel E. Gustavson
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN,Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Naomi P. Friedman
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO,Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
| | - Michael C. Stallings
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO,Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
| | | | - Hilary Coon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Robin P. Corley
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
| | - John K. Hewitt
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
| | - Reyna L. Gordon
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN,Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN,Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Muñoz E, Scott SB, Corley R, Wadsworth SJ, Sliwinski MJ, Reynolds CA. The role of neighborhood stressors on cognitive function: A coordinated analysis. Health Place 2020; 66:102442. [PMID: 32977302 PMCID: PMC7686053 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2020.102442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between perceived neighborhood stressors, encompassing negative perceived neighborhood characteristics, and specific cognitive abilities in adulthood. We conducted a coordinated analysis across three studies of adults in the United States and found that perceived neighborhood stressors were consistently associated with poorer performance on attention-demanding cognitive tasks. We specifically found that perceived neighborhood stressors were associated with lower performance in spatial abilities, working memory, and executive function but not perceptual speed, and that the effect was most consistent for lower perceived neighborhood safety followed by lower perceived aesthetic quality, greater perceived neighborhood crime, and lower perceived neighborhood cohesion. These results highlight the importance of the psychosocial neighborhood context for cognitive health in adulthood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Muñoz
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA; Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
| | - Stacey B Scott
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Robin Corley
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Sally J Wadsworth
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Martin J Sliwinski
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies and Center for Healthy Aging, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Chandra A Reynolds
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Midlife Study of the Louisville Twins: Connecting Cognitive Development to Biological and Cognitive Aging. Behav Genet 2019; 50:73-83. [PMID: 31820295 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-019-09983-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The Louisville Twin Study (LTS) began in 1958 and became a premier longitudinal twin study of cognitive development. The LTS continuously collected data from twins through 2000 after which the study closed indefinitely due to lack of funding. Now that the majority of the sample is age 40 or older (61.36%, N = 1770), the LTS childhood data can be linked to midlife cognitive functioning, among other physical, biological, social, and psychiatric outcomes. We report results from two pilot studies in anticipation of beginning the midlife phase of the LTS. The first pilot study was a participant tracking study, in which we showed that approximately 90% of the Louisville families randomly sampled (N = 203) for the study could be found. The second pilot study consisted of 40 in-person interviews in which twins completed cognitive, memory, biometric, and functional ability measures. The main purpose of the second study was to correlate midlife measures of cognitive functioning to a measure of biological age, which is an alternative index to chronological age that quantifies age as a function of the breakdown of structural and functional physiological systems, and then to relate both of these measures to twins' cognitive developmental trajectories. Midlife IQ was uncorrelated with biological age (- .01) while better scores on episodic memory more strongly correlated with lower biological age (- .19 to - .31). As expected, midlife IQ positively correlated with IQ measures collected throughout childhood and adolescence. Additionally, positive linear rates of change in FSIQ scores in childhood significantly correlated with biological age (- .68), physical functioning (.71), and functional ability (- .55), suggesting that cognitive development predicts lower biological age, better physical functioning, and better functional ability. In sum, the Louisville twins can be relocated to investigate whether and how early and midlife cognitive and physical health factors contribute to cognitive aging.
Collapse
|
9
|
Abstract
The Colorado Twin Registry (CTR) is a population-based registry formed from birth and school records including twins born between 1968 and the present. Two previous reports on the CTR [Rhea et al., (2006). Twin Research and Human Genetics, 9, 941-949; Rhea et al., (2013).Twin Research and Human Genetics, 16, 351-357] covered developments in the CTR through 2012. This report briefly summarizes previously presented material on ascertainment and recruitment and the relationships between samples and studies, discusses developments since 2012 for four previously described twin samples, describes two new samples and their complementary studies and expands on two subjects briefly mentioned in the last report: a history of genotyping efforts involving CTR samples, and a survey of collaborations and consortia in which CTR twins have been included. The CTR remains an active resource for both ongoing, longitudinal research and the recruitment of new twin samples for newly identified research opportunities.
Collapse
|