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Davison KE, Ronderos J, Gomez S, Boucher AR, Zuk J. Caregiver Self-Efficacy in Relation to Caregivers' History of Language and Reading Difficulties and Children's Shared Reading Experiences. Lang Speech Hear Serv Sch 2024:1-17. [PMID: 38820226 DOI: 10.1044/2024_lshss-23-00067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Emerging literature suggests caregiver self-efficacy is an important factor related to caregivers' shared reading practices with their children. Reduced shared reading has been documented among families of caregiver(s) with language-based learning disabilities (LBLD). Yet, it remains unclear whether caregivers' history of language and reading difficulties is associated with caregiver self-efficacy. The purpose of this study was to examine whether self-efficacy in language- and reading-related caregiver activities related to caregiver history of language and reading difficulties and shared reading practices. METHOD One hundred seventy-six caregivers of children aged 18-60 months completed a custom self-efficacy in language- and reading-related caregiver activities questionnaire, as well as demographic, history of language and reading difficulties (used both as a continuous measure and to dichotomize caregivers with and without LBLD history), and shared reading measures in a one-time survey. RESULTS Caregivers with a history of LBLD reported an overall lower self-efficacy and a reduced amount of time reading with their children per week than caregivers without LBLD history. Examining caregiver history of language and reading difficulties continuously across the whole group, self-efficacy mediated the relationship between caregiver difficulties and shared reading practices, even when caregiver education was incorporated as an additional mediator in models. CONCLUSIONS Findings indicate that self-efficacy and caregiver education mediate the relationship between caregiver history of language and reading difficulties and shared reading practices. Consideration of self-efficacy by clinicians and educators is warranted when promoting shared reading practices to caregivers of young children. There is a need for future research to examine relationships between self-efficacy and shared reading among caregivers with LBLD of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.25901590.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey E Davison
- Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Boston University, MA
| | - Juliana Ronderos
- Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Boston University, MA
| | - Sophia Gomez
- Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Boston University, MA
| | - Alyssa R Boucher
- Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Boston University, MA
| | - Jennifer Zuk
- Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Boston University, MA
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2
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Calì F, Di Blasi FD, Avola E, Vinci M, Musumeci A, Gloria A, Greco D, Raciti DR, Zagami A, Rizzo B, Città S, Federico C, Vetri L, Saccone S, Buono S. Specific Learning Disorders: Variation Analysis of 15 Candidate Genes in 9 Multiplex Families. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:1503. [PMID: 37629793 PMCID: PMC10456226 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59081503] [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: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) is a complex neurobiological disorder characterized by a persistent difficult in reading (dyslexia), written expression (dysgraphia), and mathematics (dyscalculia). The hereditary and genetic component is one of the underlying causes of SLD, but the relationship between genes and the environment should be considered. Several genetic studies were performed in different populations to identify causative genes. Materials and Methods: Here, we show the analysis of 9 multiplex families with at least 2 individuals diagnosed with SLD per family, with a total of 37 persons, 21 of whom are young subjects with SLD, by means of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) to identify possible causative mutations in a panel of 15 candidate genes: CCPG1, CYP19A1, DCDC2, DGKI, DIP2A, DYM, GCFC2, KIAA0319, MC5R, MRPL19, NEDD4L, PCNT, PRMT2, ROBO1, and S100B. Results: We detected, in eight families out nine, SNP variants in the DGKI, DIP2A, KIAA0319, and PCNT genes, even if in silico analysis did not show any causative effect on this behavioral condition. In all cases, the mutation was transmitted by one of the two parents, thus excluding the case of de novo mutation. Moreover, the parent carrying the allelic variant transmitted to the children, in six out of seven families, reports language difficulties. Conclusions: Although the present results cannot be considered conclusive due to the limited sample size, the identification of genetic variants in the above genes can provide input for further research on the same, as well as on other genes/mutations, to better understand the genetic basis of this disorder, and from this perspective, to better understand also the neuropsychological and social aspects connected to this disorder, which affects an increasing number of young people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Calì
- Oasi Research Institute—IRCCS, Via Conte Ruggero 73, 94018 Troina, Italy; (F.C.); (F.D.D.B.); (S.B.)
| | | | - Emanuela Avola
- Oasi Research Institute—IRCCS, Via Conte Ruggero 73, 94018 Troina, Italy; (F.C.); (F.D.D.B.); (S.B.)
| | - Mirella Vinci
- Oasi Research Institute—IRCCS, Via Conte Ruggero 73, 94018 Troina, Italy; (F.C.); (F.D.D.B.); (S.B.)
| | - Antonino Musumeci
- Oasi Research Institute—IRCCS, Via Conte Ruggero 73, 94018 Troina, Italy; (F.C.); (F.D.D.B.); (S.B.)
| | - Angelo Gloria
- Oasi Research Institute—IRCCS, Via Conte Ruggero 73, 94018 Troina, Italy; (F.C.); (F.D.D.B.); (S.B.)
| | - Donatella Greco
- Oasi Research Institute—IRCCS, Via Conte Ruggero 73, 94018 Troina, Italy; (F.C.); (F.D.D.B.); (S.B.)
| | - Daniela Rita Raciti
- Oasi Research Institute—IRCCS, Via Conte Ruggero 73, 94018 Troina, Italy; (F.C.); (F.D.D.B.); (S.B.)
| | - Alessandro Zagami
- Oasi Research Institute—IRCCS, Via Conte Ruggero 73, 94018 Troina, Italy; (F.C.); (F.D.D.B.); (S.B.)
| | - Biagio Rizzo
- Oasi Research Institute—IRCCS, Via Conte Ruggero 73, 94018 Troina, Italy; (F.C.); (F.D.D.B.); (S.B.)
| | - Santina Città
- Oasi Research Institute—IRCCS, Via Conte Ruggero 73, 94018 Troina, Italy; (F.C.); (F.D.D.B.); (S.B.)
| | - Concetta Federico
- Department Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via Androne 81, 95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Luigi Vetri
- Oasi Research Institute—IRCCS, Via Conte Ruggero 73, 94018 Troina, Italy; (F.C.); (F.D.D.B.); (S.B.)
| | - Salvatore Saccone
- Department Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via Androne 81, 95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Serafino Buono
- Oasi Research Institute—IRCCS, Via Conte Ruggero 73, 94018 Troina, Italy; (F.C.); (F.D.D.B.); (S.B.)
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3
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Verwimp C, Tijms J, Snellings P, Haslbeck JMB, Wiers RW. A network approach to dyslexia: Mapping the reading network. Dev Psychopathol 2023; 35:1011-1025. [PMID: 34311796 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579421000365] [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] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Research on the etiology of dyslexia typically uses an approach based on a single core deficit, failing to understand how variations in combinations of factors contribute to reading development and how this combination relates to intervention outcome. To fill this gap, this study explored links between 28 cognitive, environmental, and demographic variables related to dyslexia by employing a network analysis using a large clinical database of 1,257 elementary school children. We found two highly connected subparts in the network: one comprising reading fluency and accuracy measures, and one comprising intelligence-related measures. Interestingly, phoneme awareness was functionally related to the controlled and accurate processing of letter-speech sound mappings, whereas rapid automatized naming was more functionally related to the automated convergence of visual and speech information. We found evidence for the contribution of a variety of factors to (a)typical reading development, though associated with different aspects of the reading process. As such, our results contradict prevailing claims that dyslexia is caused by a single core deficit. This study shows how the network approach to psychopathology can be used to study complex interactions within the reading network and discusses future directions for more personalized interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara Verwimp
- Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Rudolf Berlin Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- RID, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jurgen Tijms
- Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Rudolf Berlin Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- RID, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Patrick Snellings
- Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Rudolf Berlin Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jonas M B Haslbeck
- Department of Psychological Methods, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Reinout W Wiers
- Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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4
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Davison KE, Zuk J, Mullin LJ, Ozernov-Palchik O, Norton E, Gabrieli JDE, Yu X, Gaab N. Examining Shared Reading and White Matter Organization in Kindergarten in Relation to Subsequent Language and Reading Abilities: A Longitudinal Investigation. J Cogn Neurosci 2023; 35:259-275. [PMID: 36378907 PMCID: PMC9884137 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_01944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Parent-child language interaction in early childhood carries long-term implications for children's language and reading development. Conversational interaction, in particular, has been linked to white matter organization of neural pathways critical for language and reading. However, shared book reading serves an important role for language interaction as it exposes children to sophisticated vocabulary and syntax. Despite this, it remains unclear whether shared reading also relates to white matter characteristics subserving language and reading development. If so, to what extent do these environmentally associated changes in white matter organization relate to subsequent reading outcomes? This longitudinal study examined shared reading and white matter organization in kindergarten in relation to subsequent language and reading outcomes among 77 typically developing children. Findings reveal positive associations between the number of hours children are read to weekly (shared reading time) and the fractional anisotropy of the left arcuate fasciculus, as well as left lateralization of the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF). Furthermore, left lateralization of the SLF in these kindergarteners is associated with subsequent reading abilities in second grade. Mediation analyses reveal that left lateralization of the SLF fully mediates the relationship between shared reading time and second-grade reading abilities. Results are significant when controlling for age and socioeconomic status. This is the first evidence demonstrating how white matter structure, in relation to shared reading in kindergarten, is associated with school-age reading outcomes. Results illuminate shared reading as a key proxy for the home language and literacy environment and further our understanding of how language interaction may support neurocognitive development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Xi Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University
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5
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Granocchio E, De Salvatore M, Bonanomi E, Sarti D. Sex-related differences in reading achievement. J Neurosci Res 2021; 101:668-678. [PMID: 34240762 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Over the last 40 years, ever-growing interest in sex-related differences in the human brain has led to a vast amount of literature on the subject, a small part of which relates to studies of differences in the ability to read. The data concerning typically developing children mainly come from school-based screening projects (Programme for International Student Assessment, INVALSI) and partially from the standardization of reading tests. These have revealed the existence of a gap in favor of females that primarily appears during adolescence and in situations of sociocultural disadvantage, usually explained on the basis of environmental factors such as socioeconomic status and gender-based education. Dyslexia is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is significantly more prevalent among males, a difference that neuroimaging and genetic studies have attributed to the presence of hormone-related protective factors in females, although it has been hypothesized that a different neurocognitive substrate may also be involved. However, the literature on the subject is still limited, and further studies of the interactions between genetic risk, environmental factors, and brain phenotypes are needed to clarify why females are better at performing reading tasks and less susceptible to dyslexia, regardless of their language or the educational system in the country in which they live. The aim of this mini-review was to describe the studies that have investigated sex-related differences in reading ability in both typically and atypically developing subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Granocchio
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Marinella De Salvatore
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Bonanomi
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniela Sarti
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
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6
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The Polygenic Nature and Complex Genetic Architecture of Specific Learning Disorder. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11050631. [PMID: 34068951 PMCID: PMC8156942 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11050631] [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: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) is a multifactorial, neurodevelopmental disorder which may involve persistent difficulties in reading (dyslexia), written expression and/or mathematics. Dyslexia is characterized by difficulties with speed and accuracy of word reading, deficient decoding abilities, and poor spelling. Several studies from different, but complementary, scientific disciplines have investigated possible causal/risk factors for SLD. Biological, neurological, hereditary, cognitive, linguistic-phonological, developmental and environmental factors have been incriminated. Despite worldwide agreement that SLD is highly heritable, its exact biological basis remains elusive. We herein present: (a) an update of studies that have shaped our current knowledge on the disorder’s genetic architecture; (b) a discussion on whether this genetic architecture is ‘unique’ to SLD or, alternatively, whether there is an underlying common genetic background with other neurodevelopmental disorders; and, (c) a brief discussion on whether we are at a position of generating meaningful correlations between genetic findings and anatomical data from neuroimaging studies or specific molecular/cellular pathways. We conclude with open research questions that could drive future research directions.
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7
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Micalizzi L, Marceau K, Evans AS, Brick LA, Palmer RHC, Heath AC, Knopik VS. A sibling-comparison study of smoking during pregnancy and risk for reading-related problems. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2021; 84:106961. [PMID: 33577969 PMCID: PMC7965354 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2021.106961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
This research examines the relationship between smoking during pregnancy (SDP) and risk for reading related problems in siblings discordant for exposure to SDP. Data (N = 173 families) were drawn from the Missouri Mothers and Their Children study, a sample, identified using birth records (years 1998-2005), in which mothers changed her smoking behavior between two pregnancies (Child 1 [older sibling]: M = 12.99; Child 2 [younger sibling]: M = 10.19). A sibling comparison approach was used, providing a robust test for the association between SDP and reading related outcomes in school-aged children. Results suggested within-family (i.e., potentially causal) associations between SDP and reading and language/comprehension factor scores, as well as between SDP and specific reading-related skills, including reading accuracy and receptive language, with increased exposure to SDP associated with decreased performance. SDP was not associated with spelling, reading rate, or receptive vocabulary. Initial within-family associations between SDP and word-letter identification, phonetic/decoding skills, and reading comprehension were fully attenuated following partial control for genetic and environmental confounding of the associations. These findings indicate that exposure to SDP is associated with poorer performance on some, but not all skills assessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Micalizzi
- Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University School of Public Health, Box G-S121-5, Providence, RI 02903, United States of America.
| | - Kristine Marceau
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Purdue University, 1202 W State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, United States of America
| | - Allison S Evans
- Concord Comprehensive Neuropsychological Services, 86 Baker Avenue Extension #301, Concord, MA 01742, United States of America
| | - Leslie A Brick
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 345 Blackstone Blvd, Providence, RI 02906, United States of America
| | - Rohan H C Palmer
- Behavioral Genetics of Addiction Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States of America
| | - Andrew C Heath
- Midwest Alcoholism Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110, United States of America
| | - Valerie S Knopik
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Purdue University, 1202 W State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, United States of America
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8
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The heritability of reading and reading-related neurocognitive components: A multi-level meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 121:175-200. [PMID: 33246020 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Reading ability is a complex task requiring the integration of multiple cognitive and perceptual systems supporting language, visual and orthographic processes, working memory, attention, motor movements, and higher-level comprehension and cognition. Estimates of genetic and environmental influences for some of these reading-related neurocognitive components vary across reports. By using a multi-level meta-analysis approach, we synthesized the results of behavioral genetic research on reading-related neurocognitive components (i.e. general reading, letter-word knowledge, phonological decoding, reading comprehension, spelling, phonological awareness, rapid automatized naming, and language) of 49 twin studies spanning 4.1-18.5 years of age, with a total sample size of more than 38,000 individuals. Except for language for which shared environment seems to play a more important role, the causal architecture across most of the reading-related neurocognitive components can be represented by the following equation a² > e² > c². Moderators analysis revealed that sex and spoken language did not affect the heritability of any reading-related skills; school grade levels moderated the heritability of general reading, reading comprehension and phonological awareness.
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9
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The Association of Dyslexia and Developmental Speech and Language Disorder Candidate Genes with Reading and Language Abilities in Adults. Twin Res Hum Genet 2020; 23:23-32. [PMID: 32248883 DOI: 10.1017/thg.2020.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Reading and language abilities are critical for educational achievement and success in adulthood. Variation in these traits is highly heritable, but the underlying genetic architecture is largely undiscovered. Genetic studies of reading and language skills traditionally focus on children with developmental disorders; however, much larger unselected adult samples are available, increasing power to identify associations with specific genetic variants of small effect size. We introduce an Australian adult population cohort (41.7-73.2 years of age, N = 1505) in which we obtained data using validated measures of several aspects of reading and language abilities. We performed genetic association analysis for a reading and spelling composite score, nonword reading (assessing phonological processing: a core component in learning to read), phonetic spelling, self-reported reading impairment and nonword repetition (a marker of language ability). Given the limited power in a sample of this size (~80% power to find a minimum effect size of 0.005), we focused on analyzing candidate genes that have been associated with dyslexia and developmental speech and language disorders in prior studies. In gene-based tests, FOXP2, a gene implicated in speech/language disorders, was associated with nonword repetition (p < .001), phonetic spelling (p = .002) and the reading and spelling composite score (p < .001). Gene-set analyses of candidate dyslexia and speech/language disorder genes were not significant. These findings contribute to the assessment of genetic associations in reading and language disorders, crucial for understanding their etiology and informing intervention strategies, and validate the approach of using unselected adult samples for gene discovery in language and reading.
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10
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Ladányi E, Persici V, Fiveash A, Tillmann B, Gordon RL. Is atypical rhythm a risk factor for developmental speech and language disorders? WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. COGNITIVE SCIENCE 2020; 11:e1528. [PMID: 32244259 PMCID: PMC7415602 DOI: 10.1002/wcs.1528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Revised: 03/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Although a growing literature points to substantial variation in speech/language abilities related to individual differences in musical abilities, mainstream models of communication sciences and disorders have not yet incorporated these individual differences into childhood speech/language development. This article reviews three sources of evidence in a comprehensive body of research aligning with three main themes: (a) associations between musical rhythm and speech/language processing, (b) musical rhythm in children with developmental speech/language disorders and common comorbid attentional and motor disorders, and (c) individual differences in mechanisms underlying rhythm processing in infants and their relationship with later speech/language development. In light of converging evidence on associations between musical rhythm and speech/language processing, we propose the Atypical Rhythm Risk Hypothesis, which posits that individuals with atypical rhythm are at higher risk for developmental speech/language disorders. The hypothesis is framed within the larger epidemiological literature in which recent methodological advances allow for large-scale testing of shared underlying biology across clinically distinct disorders. A series of predictions for future work testing the Atypical Rhythm Risk Hypothesis are outlined. We suggest that if a significant body of evidence is found to support this hypothesis, we can envision new risk factor models that incorporate atypical rhythm to predict the risk of developing speech/language disorders. Given the high prevalence of speech/language disorders in the population and the negative long-term social and economic consequences of gaps in identifying children at-risk, these new lines of research could potentially positively impact access to early identification and treatment. This article is categorized under: Linguistics > Language in Mind and Brain Neuroscience > Development Linguistics > Language Acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enikő Ladányi
- Department of Otolaryngology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Valentina Persici
- Department of Otolaryngology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,Department of Psychology, Università degli Studi di Milano - Bicocca, Milan, Italy.,Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Anna Fiveash
- Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Auditory Cognition and Psychoacoustics Team, CRNL, INSERM, University of Lyon 1, U1028, CNRS, UMR5292, Lyon, France
| | - Barbara Tillmann
- Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Auditory Cognition and Psychoacoustics Team, CRNL, INSERM, University of Lyon 1, U1028, CNRS, UMR5292, Lyon, France
| | - Reyna L Gordon
- Department of Otolaryngology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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11
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Price KM, Wigg KG, Feng Y, Blokland K, Wilkinson M, He G, Kerr EN, Carter TC, Guger SL, Lovett MW, Strug LJ, Barr CL. Genome-wide association study of word reading: Overlap with risk genes for neurodevelopmental disorders. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2020; 19:e12648. [PMID: 32108986 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Reading disabilities (RD) are the most common neurocognitive disorder, affecting 5% to 17% of children in North America. These children often have comorbid neurodevelopmental/psychiatric disorders, such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The genetics of RD and their overlap with other disorders is incompletely understood. To contribute to this, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for word reading. Then, using summary statistics from neurodevelopmental/psychiatric disorders, we computed polygenic risk scores (PRS) and used them to predict reading ability in our samples. This enabled us to test the shared aetiology between RD and other disorders. The GWAS consisted of 5.3 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and two samples; a family-based sample recruited for reading difficulties in Toronto (n = 624) and a population-based sample recruited in Philadelphia [Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort (PNC)] (n = 4430). The Toronto sample SNP-based analysis identified suggestive SNPs (P ~ 5 × 10-7 ) in the ARHGAP23 gene, which is implicated in neuronal migration/axon pathfinding. The PNC gene-based analysis identified significant associations (P < 2.72 × 10-6 ) for LINC00935 and CCNT1, located in the region of the KANSL2/CCNT1/LINC00935/SNORA2B/SNORA34/MIR4701/ADCY6 genes on chromosome 12q, with near significant SNP-based analysis. PRS identified significant overlap between word reading and intelligence (R2 = 0.18, P = 7.25 × 10-181 ), word reading and educational attainment (R2 = 0.07, P = 4.91 × 10-48 ) and word reading and ADHD (R2 = 0.02, P = 8.70 × 10-6 ; threshold for significance = 7.14 × 10-3 ). Overlap was also found between RD and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as top-ranked genes were previously implicated in autism by rare and copy number variant analyses. These findings support shared risk between word reading, cognitive measures, educational outcomes and neurodevelopmental disorders, including ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlyn M Price
- Genetics and Development Division, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Program in Neuroscience and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Karen G Wigg
- Genetics and Development Division, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yu Feng
- Genetics and Development Division, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kirsten Blokland
- Program in Neuroscience and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Margaret Wilkinson
- Program in Neuroscience and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gengming He
- Genetics and Genome Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elizabeth N Kerr
- Department of Psychology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tasha-Cate Carter
- Program in Neuroscience and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Holland Bloorview Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sharon L Guger
- Department of Psychology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Maureen W Lovett
- Program in Neuroscience and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lisa J Strug
- Genetics and Genome Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cathy L Barr
- Genetics and Development Division, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Program in Neuroscience and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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12
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Lazaroo NK, Bates TC, Hansell NK, Wright MJ, Martin NG, Luciano M. Genetic Structure of IQ, Phonemic Decoding Skill, and Academic Achievement. Front Genet 2019; 10:195. [PMID: 30949193 PMCID: PMC6436069 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine whether phonemic decoding skill (deficits of which characterize dyslexia) shares genetic and/or environmental covariance with scholastic abilities independent of general intelligence. Non-word reading ability, verbal and non-verbal IQ, and standardized academic achievement (Queensland Core Skills Test; QCST) were measured in Australian twins (up to 876 twin pairs and 80 singleton twins). Multivariate genetic analysis showed the presence of a general genetic factor, likely reflecting crystallized ability, which accounted for 45-76% of phenotypic variance in QCST scores, 62% of variance in Verbal IQ, 23% of variance in Performance IQ, and 19% of variance in phonological reading ability. The phonemic decoding genetic factor (explaining 48% of variance in phonemic decoding) was negatively associated with mathematical achievement scores (0.4%). Shared effects of common environment did not explain the relationship between reading ability and academic achievement beyond those also influencing IQ. The unique environmental reading factor (accounting for 26% of variance) influenced academic abilities related to written expression. Future research will need to address whether these reading-specific genetic and unique environment relationships arise from causal effects of reading on scholastic abilities, or whether both share a common influence, such as pleiotropic genes/environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita K. Lazaroo
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Timothy C. Bates
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Narelle K. Hansell
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Margaret J. Wright
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Nicholas G. Martin
- Genetic Epidemiology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Michelle Luciano
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Krafnick AJ, Evans TM. Neurobiological Sex Differences in Developmental Dyslexia. Front Psychol 2019; 9:2669. [PMID: 30687153 PMCID: PMC6336691 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding sex differences at the neurobiological level has become increasingly crucial in both basic and applied research. In the study of developmental dyslexia, early neuroimaging investigations were dominated by male-only or male-dominated samples, due at least in part to males being diagnosed more frequently. While recent studies more consistently balance the inclusion of both sexes, there has been little movement toward directly characterizing potential sex differences of the disorder. However, a string of recent work suggests that the brain basis of dyslexia may indeed be different in males and females. This potential sex difference has implications for existing models of dyslexia, and would inform approaches to the remediation of reading difficulties. This article reviews recent evidence for sex differences in dyslexia, discusses the impact these studies have on the understanding of the brain basis of dyslexia, and provides a framework for how these differential neuroanatomical profiles may develop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony J Krafnick
- Psychology Department, Dominican University, River Forest, IL, United States
| | - Tanya M Evans
- Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning, Curry School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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Gu H, Hou F, Liu L, Luo X, Nkomola PD, Xie X, Li X, Song R. Genetic variants in the CNTNAP2 gene are associated with gender differences among dyslexic children in China. EBioMedicine 2018; 34:165-170. [PMID: 30017804 PMCID: PMC6116347 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2018.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Revised: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background It is well known that males have a higher prevalence of developmental dyslexia (DD) than females. Although the mechanism underlying this gender difference remains unknown, the contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2) gene, which shows sex-specific patterns in some neurodevelopmental disorders, has attracted extensive attention. This study aimed to explore whether CNTNAP2 shows a sex-specific association with DD in a Chinese population. Methods Using genomic DNA samples of 726 students [372 cases (282 male, 90 female), 354 controls (267 male, 87 female)], we genotyped five SNPs of CNTNAP2. Gender-stratified logistic regression models were used to determine the relationships between the CNTNAP2 variants and DD. Findings After adjustment for the false discovery rate (FDR), two SNPs (rs3779031, rs987456) of CNTNAP2 were associated with DD risk in females but not in males. Female participants carrying the rs3779031 G allele had a lower risk of DD than those with the A genotype [GG vs AA: OR (95%CI) = 0.281 (0.097–0.814)]. The rs987456 CC genotype was associated with a decreased risk of DD in females [CC vs AA+CA: OR (95%CI) = 0.222 (0.078–0.628)]. Furthermore, the interaction between CNTNAP2 (rs987456) and environmental factors (scheduled reading time) played a protective role in females [OR (95%CI) = 0.431 (0.188–0.987)]. Interpretation We performed a genetic association study on CNTNAP2 variants and DD. The sex specificity of CNTNAP2 in DD, along with the gene-environment interaction may help us to understand gender differences in DD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaiting Gu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, MOE (Ministry of Education) Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
| | - Fang Hou
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, MOE (Ministry of Education) Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
| | - Lingfei Liu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, MOE (Ministry of Education) Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
| | - Xiu Luo
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, MOE (Ministry of Education) Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
| | - Pauline Denis Nkomola
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, MOE (Ministry of Education) Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
| | - Xinyan Xie
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, MOE (Ministry of Education) Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, MOE (Ministry of Education) Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
| | - Ranran Song
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, MOE (Ministry of Education) Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China.
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15
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Tosto MG, Hayiou-Thomas ME, Harlaar N, Prom-Wormley E, Dale PS, Plomin R. The genetic architecture of oral language, reading fluency, and reading comprehension: A twin study from 7 to 16 years. Dev Psychol 2018; 53:1115-1129. [PMID: 28541066 PMCID: PMC5444555 DOI: 10.1037/dev0000297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
This study examines the genetic and environmental etiology underlying the development of oral language and reading skills, and the relationship between them, over a long period of developmental time spanning middle childhood and adolescence. It focuses particularly on the differential relationship between language and two different aspects of reading: reading fluency and reading comprehension. Structural equation models were applied to language and reading data at 7, 12, and 16 years from the large-scale TEDS twin study. A series of multivariate twin models show a clear patterning of oral language with reading comprehension, as distinct from reading fluency: significant but moderate genetic overlap between oral language and reading fluency (genetic correlation rg = .46-.58 at 7, 12, and 16) contrasts with very substantial genetic overlap between oral language and reading comprehension (rg = .81-.87, at 12 and 16). This pattern is even clearer in a latent factors model, fit to the data aggregated across ages, in which a single factor representing oral language and reading comprehension is correlated with-but distinct from-a second factor representing reading fluency. A distinction between oral language and reading fluency is also apparent in different developmental trajectories: While the heritability of oral language increases over the period from 7 to 12 to 16 years (from h² = .27 to .47 to .55), the heritability of reading fluency is high and largely stable over the same period of time (h² = .73 to .71 to .64). (PsycINFO Database Record
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nicole Harlaar
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz
| | | | - Philip S Dale
- Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of New Mexico
| | - Robert Plomin
- Social, Genetic, and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London
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16
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Abstract
SummaryResearch has established that genetic differences among people explain a greater or smaller proportion of the variation in life outcomes in different environmental conditions. This review evaluates the results of recent educationally relevant behavioural genetic studies and meta-analyses in the context of recent trends in income and wealth distribution. The pattern of results suggests that inequality and social policies can have profound effects on the heritability of educational attainment and achievement in a population (Gene–Gini interplay). For example, heritability is generally higher at greater equality levels, suggesting that inequality stifles the expression of educationally relevant genetic propensities. The review concludes with a discussion of the mechanisms of Gene–Gini interplay and what the findings mean for efforts to optimize education for all people.
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17
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Müller B, Schaadt G, Boltze J, Emmrich F, Skeide MA, Neef NE, Kraft I, Brauer J, Friederici AD, Kirsten H, Wilcke A. ATP2C2 and DYX1C1 are putative modulators of dyslexia-related MMR. Brain Behav 2017; 7:e00851. [PMID: 29201552 PMCID: PMC5698869 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2016] [Revised: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dyslexia is a specific learning disorder affecting reading and spelling abilities. Its prevalence is ~5% in German-speaking individuals. Although the etiology of dyslexia largely remains to be determined, comprehensive evidence supports deficient phonological processing as a major contributing factor. An important prerequisite for phonological processing is auditory discrimination and, thus, essential for acquiring reading and spelling skills. The event-related potential Mismatch Response (MMR) is an indicator for auditory discrimination capabilities with dyslexics showing an altered late component of MMR in response to auditory input. METHODS In this study, we comprehensively analyzed associations of dyslexia-specific late MMRs with genetic variants previously reported to be associated with dyslexia-related phenotypes in multiple studies comprising 25 independent single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within 10 genes. RESULTS First, we demonstrated validity of these SNPs for dyslexia in our sample by showing that additional inclusion of a polygenic risk score improved prediction of impaired writing compared with a model that used MMR alone. Secondly, a multifactorial regression analysis was conducted to uncover the subset of the 25 SNPs that is associated with the dyslexia-specific late component of MMR. In total, four independent SNPs within DYX1C1 and ATP2C2 were found to be associated with MMR stronger than expected from multiple testing. To explore potential pathomechanisms, we annotated these variants with functional data including tissue-specific expression analysis and eQTLs. CONCLUSION Our findings corroborate the late component of MMR as a potential endophenotype for dyslexia and support tripartite relationships between dyslexia-related SNPs, the late component of MMR and dyslexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bent Müller
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology Leipzig Germany
| | - Gesa Schaadt
- Department of Neuropsychology Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Leipzig Germany.,Department of Psychology Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Berlin Germany
| | - Johannes Boltze
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology Leipzig Germany.,Department of Medical Cell Technology Fraunhofer Research Institution for Marine Biotechnology Lübeck Germany.,Institute for Medical and Marine Biotechnology University of Lübeck Lübeck Germany
| | - Frank Emmrich
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology Leipzig Germany
| | | | - Michael A Skeide
- Department of Neuropsychology Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Leipzig Germany
| | - Nicole E Neef
- Department of Neuropsychology Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Leipzig Germany
| | - Indra Kraft
- Department of Neuropsychology Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Leipzig Germany
| | - Jens Brauer
- Department of Neuropsychology Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Leipzig Germany
| | - Angela D Friederici
- Department of Neuropsychology Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Leipzig Germany
| | - Holger Kirsten
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology Leipzig Germany.,Institute for Medical Informatics Statistics and Epidemiology University of Leipzig Leipzig Germany.,LIFE-Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases University of Leipzig Leipzig Germany
| | - Arndt Wilcke
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology Leipzig Germany
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18
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Luciano M, Hagenaars SP, Cox SR, Hill WD, Davies G, Harris SE, Deary IJ, Evans DM, Martin NG, Wright MJ, Bates TC. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Associated with Reading Ability Show Connection to Socio-Economic Outcomes. Behav Genet 2017; 47:469-479. [PMID: 28711986 PMCID: PMC5574963 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-017-9859-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 06/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Impairments in reading and in language have negative consequences on life outcomes, but it is not known to what extent genetic effects influence this association. We constructed polygenic scores for difficulties with language and learning to read from genome-wide data in ~6,600 children, adolescents and young adults, and tested their association with health, socioeconomic outcomes and brain structure measures collected in adults (maximal N = 111,749). Polygenic risk of reading difficulties was associated with reduced income, educational attainment, self-rated health and verbal-numerical reasoning (p < 0.00055). Polygenic risk of language difficulties predicted income (p = 0.0005). The small effect sizes ranged 0.01-0.03 of a standard deviation, but these will increase as genetic studies for reading ability get larger. Polygenic scores for childhood cognitive ability and educational attainment were correlated with polygenic scores of reading and language (up to 0.09 and 0.05, respectively). But when they were included in the prediction models, the observed associations between polygenic reading and adult outcomes mostly remained. This suggests that the pathway from reading ability to social outcomes is not only via associated polygenic loads for general cognitive function and educational attainment. The presence of non-overlapping genetic effect is indicated by the genetic correlations of around 0.40 (childhood intelligence) and 0.70 (educational attainment) with reading ability. Mendelian randomization approaches will be important to dissociate any causal and moderating effects of reading and related traits on social outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Luciano
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, The University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK.
| | - Saskia P Hagenaars
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, The University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH10 5HF, UK
| | - Simon R Cox
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, The University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - William David Hill
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, The University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Gail Davies
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, The University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Sarah E Harris
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, The University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
- Medical Genetics Section, University of Edinburgh Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine and MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Ian J Deary
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, The University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - David M Evans
- University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Nicholas G Martin
- Genetic Epidemiology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Margaret J Wright
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Timothy C Bates
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, The University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
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19
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Swagerman SC, van Bergen E, Dolan C, de Geus EJC, Koenis MMG, Hulshoff Pol HE, Boomsma DI. Genetic transmission of reading ability. BRAIN AND LANGUAGE 2017; 172:3-8. [PMID: 26300341 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandl.2015.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2015] [Revised: 07/01/2015] [Accepted: 07/16/2015] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Reading is the processing of written language. Family resemblance for reading (dis)ability might be due to transmission of a genetic liability or due to family environment, including cultural transmission from parents to offspring. Familial-risk studies exploring neurobehavioral precursors for dyslexia and twin studies can only speak to some of these issues, but a combined twin-family study can resolve the nature of the transmitted risk. Word-reading fluency scores of 1100 participants from 431 families (with twins, siblings and their parents) were analyzed to estimate genetic and environmental sources of variance, and to test the presence of assortative mating and cultural transmission. Results show that variation in reading ability is mainly caused by additive and non-additive genetic factors (64%). The substantial assortative mating (rfather-mother=0.38) has scientific and clinical implications. We conclude that parents and offspring tend to resemble each other for genetic reasons, and not due to cultural transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne C Swagerman
- Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Elsje van Bergen
- Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, 9 South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3UD, United Kingdom
| | - Conor Dolan
- Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Eco J C de Geus
- Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands; EMGO(+) Institute of Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marinka M G Koenis
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Hilleke E Hulshoff Pol
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Dorret I Boomsma
- Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Selzam S, Dale PS, Wagner RK, DeFries JC, Cederlöf M, O’Reilly PF, Krapohl E, Plomin R. Genome-Wide Polygenic Scores Predict Reading Performance Throughout the School Years. SCIENTIFIC STUDIES OF READING : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF READING 2017; 21:334-349. [PMID: 28706435 PMCID: PMC5490720 DOI: 10.1080/10888438.2017.1299152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
It is now possible to create individual-specific genetic scores, called genome-wide polygenic scores (GPS). We used a GPS for years of education (EduYears) to predict reading performance assessed at UK National Curriculum Key Stages 1 (age 7), 2 (age 12) and 3 (age 14) and on reading tests administered at ages 7 and 12 in a UK sample of 5,825 unrelated individuals. EduYears GPS accounts for up to 5% of the variance in reading performance at age 14. GPS predictions remained significant after accounting for general cognitive ability and family socioeconomic status. Reading performance of children in the lowest and highest 12.5% of the EduYears GPS distribution differed by a mean growth in reading ability of approximately two school years. It seems certain that polygenic scores will be used to predict strengths and weaknesses in education.
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21
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Mehta CM, Gruen JR, Zhang H. A method for integrating neuroimaging into genetic models of learning performance. Genet Epidemiol 2017; 41:4-17. [PMID: 27859682 PMCID: PMC5154929 DOI: 10.1002/gepi.22025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2016] [Revised: 09/27/2016] [Accepted: 09/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Specific learning disorders (SLD) are an archetypal example of how clinical neuropsychological (NP) traits can differ from underlying genetic and neurobiological risk factors. Disparate environmental influences and pathologies impact learning performance assessed through cognitive examinations and clinical evaluations, the primary diagnostic tools for SLD. We propose a neurobiological risk for SLD with neuroimaging biomarkers, which is integrated into a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of learning performance in a cohort of 479 European individuals between 8 and 21 years of age. We first identified six regions of interest (ROIs) in temporal and anterior cingulate regions where the group diagnosed with learning disability has the least overall variation, relative to the other group, in thickness, area, and volume measurements. Although we used the three imaging measures, the thickness was the leading contributor. Hence, we calculated the Euclidean distances between any two individuals based on their thickness measures in the six ROIs. Then, we defined the relative similarity of one individual according to the averaged ranking of pairwise distances from the individuals to those in the SLD group. The inverse of this relative similarity is called the neurobiological risk for the individual. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the AGBL1 gene on chromosome 15 had a significant association with learning performance at a genome-wide level. This finding was supported in an independent cohort of 2,327 individuals of the same demographic profile. Our statistical approach for integrating genetic and neuroimaging biomarkers can be extended into studying the biological basis of other NP traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chintan M. Mehta
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale University, 300 George Street, Suite 523, New Haven, Connecticut, 06511 (USA)
| | - Jeffrey R. Gruen
- Department of Pediatrics and Genetics, Yale University, 464 Congress Avenue, Suite 208, New Haven, Connecticut, 06511 (USA)
| | - Heping Zhang
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale University, 300 George Street, Suite 523, New Haven, Connecticut, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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22
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El Sheikh MM, El Missiry MA, Hatata HA, Sabry WM, El Fiky AAA, Essawi HI. Frequency of occurrence of specific reading disorder and associated psychiatric comorbidity in a sample of Egyptian primary school students. Child Adolesc Ment Health 2016; 21:209-216. [PMID: 32680335 DOI: 10.1111/camh.12174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Specific reading disorder (dyslexia) is common in primary school students. Data on prevalence rates in Egypt are needed along with better screening tools to guide future research. We aimed to estimate the frequency of dyslexia in a sample of fourth and fifth graders. METHOD A cross-sectional study was conducted in Eastern Cairo through multistage random selection of students from three governmental primary schools. A total of 586 students were recruited. Only 567 students fulfilled the inclusion criteria; they were subjected to screening by Goodenough Draw-a-Man test for intellectual quotient (IQ), the Reading Disability Test of Nasra Gilgil (RDT) to identify dyslexic children, Wechsler Children Intelligence Scale for thorough detection of IQ, and the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS-PL) to detect psychiatric comorbidity. RESULTS The frequency of occurrence of specific reading disorder (dyslexia) was 11.3% among the studied sample of Egyptian primary school students. The gender ratio was nearly 1.3:1 boys to girls. Comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders was found in 57.8% of the sample. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was present in 33%, generalized anxiety disorder in 21.6%, and major depressive disorder in 16.2% of patients. CONCLUSION Dyslexia was prevalent in fourth and fifth graders. A meaningful presence of ADHD, anxiety, and depressed mood was detected in students. There is a need for better screening and awareness for early intervention and service provision. The cross-sectional design, lack of collateral information, and records precluded inference of casualty. The lack of rural comparator and samples from other governorates limit generalization of results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona M El Sheikh
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, Research & Training, Ain Shams University Hospitals, Abbasseyia, PO Box 11657 Dair El Malak, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Marwa A El Missiry
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, Research & Training, Ain Shams University Hospitals, Abbasseyia, PO Box 11657 Dair El Malak, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hisham A Hatata
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, Research & Training, Ain Shams University Hospitals, Abbasseyia, PO Box 11657 Dair El Malak, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Walaa M Sabry
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, Research & Training, Ain Shams University Hospitals, Abbasseyia, PO Box 11657 Dair El Malak, Cairo, Egypt
| | | | - Heba I Essawi
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, Research & Training, Ain Shams University Hospitals, Abbasseyia, PO Box 11657 Dair El Malak, Cairo, Egypt
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23
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Hamilton LG, Hayiou-Thomas ME, Hulme C, Snowling MJ. The Home Literacy Environment as a Predictor of the Early Literacy Development of Children at Family-Risk of Dyslexia. SCIENTIFIC STUDIES OF READING : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF READING 2016; 20:401-419. [PMID: 28250707 PMCID: PMC5308453 DOI: 10.1080/10888438.2016.1213266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The home literacy environment (HLE) predicts language and reading development in typically developing children; relatively little is known about its association with literacy development in children at family-risk of dyslexia. We assessed the HLE at age 4 years, precursor literacy skills at age 5, and literacy outcomes at age 6, in a sample of children at family-risk of dyslexia (n = 116) and children with no known risk (n = 72). Developmental relationships between the HLE and literacy were comparable between the groups; an additional effect of storybook exposure on phoneme awareness was observed in the family-risk group only. The effects of socioeconomic status on literacy were partially mediated by variations in the HLE; in turn, effects of the HLE on literacy were mediated by precursor skills (oral language, phoneme awareness, and emergent decoding) in both groups. Findings are discussed in terms of possible gene-environment correlation mechanisms underpinning atypical literacy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorna G. Hamilton
- York St John University
- CONTACT Lorna G. Hamilton School of Psychological and Social Sciences, York St John University, Lord Mayors Walk, York, YO30 7EX, UK
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Skeide MA, Kraft I, Müller B, Schaadt G, Neef NE, Brauer J, Wilcke A, Kirsten H, Boltze J, Friederici AD. NRSN1 associated grey matter volume of the visual word form area reveals dyslexia before school. Brain 2016; 139:2792-2803. [PMID: 27343255 DOI: 10.1093/brain/aww153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2015] [Accepted: 05/08/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Literacy learning depends on the flexibility of the human brain to reconfigure itself in response to environmental influences. At the same time, literacy and disorders of literacy acquisition are heritable and thus to some degree genetically predetermined. Here we used a multivariate non-parametric genetic model to relate literacy-associated genetic variants to grey and white matter volumes derived by voxel-based morphometry in a cohort of 141 children. Subsequently, a sample of 34 children attending grades 4 to 8, and another sample of 20 children, longitudinally followed from kindergarten to first grade, were classified as dyslexics and controls using linear binary support vector machines. The NRSN1-associated grey matter volume of the 'visual word form area' achieved a classification accuracy of ~ 73% in literacy-experienced students and distinguished between later dyslexic individuals and controls with an accuracy of 75% at kindergarten age. These findings suggest that the cortical plasticity of a region vital for literacy might be genetically modulated, thereby potentially preconstraining literacy outcome. Accordingly, these results could pave the way for identifying and treating the most common learning disorder before it manifests itself in school.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Skeide
- 1 Department of Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstraße 1a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Indra Kraft
- 1 Department of Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstraße 1a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Bent Müller
- 2 Cognitive Genetics Unit, Department of Cell Therapy, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Perlickstraße 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Gesa Schaadt
- 1 Department of Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstraße 1a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany 3 Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Rudower Chaussee 18, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Nicole E Neef
- 1 Department of Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstraße 1a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jens Brauer
- 1 Department of Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstraße 1a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Arndt Wilcke
- 2 Cognitive Genetics Unit, Department of Cell Therapy, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Perlickstraße 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Holger Kirsten
- 2 Cognitive Genetics Unit, Department of Cell Therapy, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Perlickstraße 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany 4 Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology, Universität Leipzig, Härtelstraße 16-18, 04107 Leipzig, Germany 5 LIFE - Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Universität Leipzig, Härtelstraße 16-18, 04107 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Johannes Boltze
- 2 Cognitive Genetics Unit, Department of Cell Therapy, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Perlickstraße 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany 6 Fraunhofer Research Institution for Marine Biotechnology, Department of Medical Cell Technology, and Institute for Medical and Marine Biotechnology, University of Lübeck, Mönkhofer Weg 239a, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Angela D Friederici
- 1 Department of Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstraße 1a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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Müller B, Wilcke A, Czepezauer I, Ahnert P, Boltze J, Kirsten H. Association, characterisation and meta-analysis of SNPs linked to general reading ability in a German dyslexia case-control cohort. Sci Rep 2016; 6:27901. [PMID: 27312598 PMCID: PMC4911550 DOI: 10.1038/srep27901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2015] [Accepted: 05/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Dyslexia is a severe disorder in the acquisition of reading and writing. Several studies investigated the role of genetics for reading, writing and spelling ability in the general population. However, many of the identified SNPs were not analysed in case-control cohorts. Here, we investigated SNPs previously linked to reading or spelling ability in the general population in a German case-control cohort. Furthermore, we characterised these SNPs for functional relevance with in silico methods and meta-analysed them with previous studies. A total of 16 SNPs within five genes were included. The total number of risk alleles was higher in cases than in controls. Three SNPs were nominally associated with dyslexia: rs7765678 within DCDC2, and rs2038137 and rs6935076 within KIAA0319. The relevance of rs2038137 and rs6935076 was further supported by the meta-analysis. Functional profiling included analysis of tissue-specific expression, annotations for regulatory elements and effects on gene expression levels (eQTLs). Thereby, we found molecular mechanistical implications for 13 of all 16 included SNPs. SNPs associated in our cohort showed stronger gene-specific eQTL effects than non-associated SNPs. In summary, our results validate SNPs previously linked to reading and spelling in the general population in dyslexics and provide insights into their putative molecular pathomechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bent Müller
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Arndt Wilcke
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany.,Translational Centre for Regenerative Medicine (TRM), Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ivonne Czepezauer
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Peter Ahnert
- Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,LIFE-Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Johannes Boltze
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany.,Fraunhofer Research Institution for Marine Biotechnology, Department of Medical Cell Technology, Lübeck, Germany.,Institute for Medical and Marine Biotechnology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Holger Kirsten
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany.,Translational Centre for Regenerative Medicine (TRM), Leipzig, Germany.,Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,LIFE-Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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Grasby KL, Coventry WL, Byrne B, Olson RK, Medland SE. Genetic and Environmental Influences on Literacy and Numeracy Performance in Australian School Children in Grades 3, 5, 7, and 9. Behav Genet 2016; 46:627-648. [DOI: 10.1007/s10519-016-9797-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Accepted: 05/28/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Ozernov-Palchik O, Yu X, Wang Y, Gaab N. Lessons to be learned: how a comprehensive neurobiological framework of atypical reading development can inform educational practice. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2016; 10:45-58. [PMID: 27766284 DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2016.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Dyslexia is a heritable reading disorder with an estimated prevalence of 5-17%. A multiple deficit model has been proposed that illustrates dyslexia as an outcome of multiple risks and protective factors interacting at the genetic, neural, cognitive, and environmental levels. Here we review the evidence on each of these levels and discuss possible underlying mechanisms and their reciprocal interactions along a developmental timeline. Current and potential implications of neuroscientific findings for contemporary challenges in the field of dyslexia, as well as for reading development and education in general, are then discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ola Ozernov-Palchik
- Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston, MA 02115, United States; Center for Reading and Language Research, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, United States
| | - Xi Yu
- Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston, MA 02115, United States; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Yingying Wang
- Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston, MA 02115, United States; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Nadine Gaab
- Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston, MA 02115, United States; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States
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28
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Bishop DVM. The interface between genetics and psychology: lessons from developmental dyslexia. Proc Biol Sci 2016; 282:20143139. [PMID: 25854887 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2014.3139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Developmental dyslexia runs in families, and twin studies have confirmed that there is a substantial genetic contribution to poor reading. The way in which discoveries in molecular genetics are reported can be misleading, encouraging us to think that there are specific genes that might be used to screen for disorder. However, dyslexia is not a classic Mendelian disorder that is caused by a mutation in a single gene. Rather, like many other common disorders, it appears to involve combined effects of many genes and environmental factors, each of which has a small influence, possibly supplemented by rare variants that have larger effects but apply to only a minority of cases. Furthermore, to see clearer relationships between genotype and phenotype, we may need to move beyond the clinical category of dyslexia to look at underlying cognitive deficits that may be implicated in other neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- D V M Bishop
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3UD, UK
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29
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Paracchini S, Diaz R, Stein J. Advances in Dyslexia Genetics—New Insights Into the Role of Brain Asymmetries. ADVANCES IN GENETICS 2016; 96:53-97. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.adgen.2016.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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30
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The Colorado Longitudinal Twin Study of Reading Difficulties and ADHD: Etiologies of Comorbidity and Stability. Twin Res Hum Genet 2015; 18:755-61. [PMID: 26537134 DOI: 10.1017/thg.2015.66] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Approximately 60% of children with reading difficulties (RD) meet criteria for at least one co-occurring disorder. The most common of these, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), occurs in 20-40% of individuals with RD. Recent studies have suggested that genetic influences are responsible. To assess the genetic etiologies of RD and the comorbidity of RD and two ADHD symptom dimensions -- inattention (IN) and hyperactivity/impulsivity (H/I) -- we are conducting the first longitudinal twin study of RD and ADHD. Data from twin pairs in which at least one member of the pair met criteria for proband status for RD at initial assessment, and were reassessed 5 years later, were subjected to DeFries-Fulker (DF) analysis. Analyses of reading composite data indicated that over 60% of the proband deficit at initial assessment was due to genetic influences, and that reading deficits at follow-up were due substantially to the same genetic influences. When a bivariate DF model was fitted to reading performance and IN data, genetic influences accounted for 60% of contemporaneous comorbidity and over 60% of the longitudinal relationship. In contrast, analysis of the comorbidity between reading performance and H/I indicated that common genetic influences accounted for only about 20% of the contemporaneous and about 10% of the longitudinal relationships. Results indicate that (1) genetic influences on RD are substantial and highly stable; (2) the comorbidity between RD and IN is due largely to genetic influences, both contemporaneously and longitudinally; and (3) genetic influences contribute significantly less to the comorbidity between RD and H/I.
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31
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de Zeeuw EL, de Geus EJ, Boomsma DI. Meta-analysis of twin studies highlights the importance of genetic variation in primary school educational achievement. Trends Neurosci Educ 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tine.2015.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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32
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Tischler T, Daseking M, Petermann F. Einschätzung von Risikofaktoren bei der Entstehung von Leseschwierigkeiten. Monatsschr Kinderheilkd 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s00112-015-3321-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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33
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Olson RK, Keenan JM, Byrne B, Samuelsson S. Why do Children Differ in Their Development of Reading and Related Skills? SCIENTIFIC STUDIES OF READING : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF READING 2014; 18:38-54. [PMID: 25104901 PMCID: PMC4120985 DOI: 10.1080/10888438.2013.800521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Modern behavior-genetic studies of twins in the U.S., Australia, Scandinavia, and the U.K. show that genes account for most of the variance in children's reading ability by the end of the first year of formal reading instruction. Strong genetic influence continues across the grades, though the relevant genes vary for reading words and comprehending text, and some of the genetic influence comes through a gene - environment correlation. Strong genetic influences do not diminish the importance of the environment for reading development in the population and for helping struggling readers, but they question setting the same minimal performance criterion for all children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard K Olson
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, and Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, and Department of Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Linköping University
| | | | - Brian Byrne
- School of Behavioural, Cognitive and Social Sciences, University of New England, and Department of Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Linköping University
| | - Stefan Samuelsson
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Linköping University
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The correlation between reading and mathematics ability at age twelve has a substantial genetic component. Nat Commun 2014; 5:4204. [PMID: 25003214 PMCID: PMC4102107 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2013] [Accepted: 05/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Dissecting how genetic and environmental influences impact on learning is helpful for maximizing numeracy and literacy. Here we show, using twin and genome-wide analysis, that there is a substantial genetic component to children’s ability in reading and mathematics, and estimate that around one half of the observed correlation in these traits is due to shared genetic effects (so-called Generalist Genes). Thus, our results highlight the potential role of the learning environment in contributing to differences in a child’s cognitive abilities at age twelve. Understanding the genetic basis of cognitive traits could aid the development of numeracy and literacy skills in children. Here the authors show that reading and mathematics have a large overlapping genetic component and suggest that a child's learning environment has a key role in creating differences between them.
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35
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Harlaar N, Trzaskowski M, Dale PS, Plomin R. Word reading fluency: role of genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms in developmental stability and correlations with print exposure. Child Dev 2014; 85:1190-1205. [PMID: 24392801 PMCID: PMC4064251 DOI: 10.1111/cdev.12207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The genetic effects on individual differences in reading development were examined using genome-wide complex trait analysis (GCTA) in a twin sample. In unrelated individuals (one twin per pair, n = 2,942), the GCTA-based heritability of reading fluency was ~20%-29% at ages 7 and 12. GCTA bivariate results showed that the phenotypic stability of reading fluency from 7 to 12 years (r = 0.69) is largely driven by genetic stability (genetic r = 0.69). Genetic effects on print exposure at age 12 were moderate (~26%) and correlated with those influencing reading fluency at 12 (genetic r = 0.89), indicative of a gene-environment correlation. These findings were largely consistent with quantitative genetic twin analyses that used both twins in each pair (n = 1,066-1,409).
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36
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Mueller B, Ahnert P, Burkhardt J, Brauer J, Czepezauer I, Quente E, Boltze J, Wilcke A, Kirsten H. Genetic risk variants for dyslexia on chromosome 18 in a German cohort. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2014; 13:350-6. [PMID: 24373531 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2013] [Revised: 10/18/2013] [Accepted: 12/24/2013] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Dyslexia is characterized by impaired reading and spelling. The disorder has a prevalence of about 5% in Germany, and a strong hereditary component. Several loci are thought to be involved in the development of dyslexia. Scerri et al. identified eight potential dyslexia-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in seven genes on chromosome 18 in an English-speaking population. Here, we present an association analysis that explores the relevance of these SNPs in a German population comprising 388 dyslexia cases and 364 control cases. In case-control analysis, three nominal SNP associations were replicated. The major alleles of NEDD4L-rs12606138 and NEDD4L-rs8094327 were risk associated [odds ratio (OR) = 1.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.0-1.7, P-value = 0.017 and OR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.1-1.7, P-value = 0.007, respectively], and both SNPs were in strong linkage disequilibrium (r(2) = 0.95). For MYO5B-rs555879, the minor allele was risk associated (OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.1-1.6, P-value = 0.011). The combined analysis of SNP sets using set enrichment analysis revealed a study-wide significant association for three SNPs with susceptibility for dyslexia. In summary, our results substantiate genetic markers in NEDD4L and MYO5B as risk factors for dyslexia and provide first evidence that the relevance of these markers is not restricted to the English language.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Mueller
- Department of Cell Therapy, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology
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37
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Abstract
Reviews of behavioral genetic studies note that “control” aspects of parenting yield low estimates of heritability, while “affective” aspects (parental feelings) yield moderate estimates. Research to date has not specifically considered whether positive and negative aspects of parenting—for both feelings and control—may explain these etiological distinctions. We addressed this issue using parent reports of parenting in a large twin sample in the United Kingdom, at ages 9 (N = 2,260 twin pairs), 12 (N = 3,850 twin pairs) and 14 (N = 2,293 twin pairs) years. Our findings supported previous work indicating that parental feelings show greater heritability (h2) than control (across all ages, mean h2 feelings = .42, control = .13). Of specific interest is our novel finding that for control as well as for feelings, the heritability for negative aspects of parenting was greater than for positive aspects (e.g., across all ages, mean h2 total negativity = .44; total positivity = .12). Results across the 3 ages using common pathway models for all scales further endorsed our hypotheses. Previous research has shown that children’s genetically driven characteristics elicit parenting; our pattern of our results suggests that what is critical is the “dark” side of these characteristics for eliciting negativity from parents, whether feelings toward the child or control strategies are considered. Improving understanding of how the environment is shaped by the dark side is important theoretically and, ultimately, for targeting intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maciej Trzaskowski
- Medical Research Council Social, Genetic, & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, King's College London Institute of Psychiatry
| | - Robert Plomin
- Medical Research Council Social, Genetic, & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, King's College London Institute of Psychiatry
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38
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Hulme C, Snowling MJ. The interface between spoken and written language: developmental disorders. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2013; 369:20120395. [PMID: 24324239 PMCID: PMC3866425 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2012.0395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
We review current knowledge about reading development and the origins of difficulties in learning to read. We distinguish between the processes involved in learning to decode print, and the processes involved in reading for meaning (reading comprehension). At a cognitive level, difficulties in learning to read appear to be predominantly caused by deficits in underlying oral language skills. The development of decoding skills appears to depend critically upon phonological language skills, and variations in phoneme awareness, letter-sound knowledge and rapid automatized naming each appear to be causally related to problems in learning to read. Reading comprehension difficulties in contrast appear to be critically dependent on a range of oral language comprehension skills (including vocabulary knowledge and grammatical, morphological and pragmatic skills).
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Hulme
- Division of Psychology and Language Science, University College London, 2 Wakefield Street, London WC1N 1PF, UK
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Protopapas A. From temporal processing to developmental language disorders: mind the gap. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2013; 369:20130090. [PMID: 24324245 PMCID: PMC3866431 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2013.0090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The 'rapid temporal processing' and the 'temporal sampling framework' hypotheses have been proposed to account for the deficits in language and literacy development seen in specific language impairment and dyslexia. This paper reviews these hypotheses and concludes that the proposed causal chains between the presumed auditory processing deficits and the observed behavioural manifestation of the disorders are vague and not well established empirically. Several problems and limitations are identified. Most data concern correlations between distantly related tasks, and there is considerable heterogeneity and variability in performance as well as concerns about reliability and validity. Little attention is paid to the distinction between ostensibly perceptual and metalinguistic tasks or between implicit and explicit modes of performance, yet measures are assumed to be pure indicators of underlying processes or representations. The possibility that diagnostic categories do not refer to causally and behaviourally homogeneous groups needs to be taken seriously, taking into account genetic and neurodevelopmental studies to construct multiple-risk models. To make progress in the field, cognitive models of each task must be specified, including performance domains that are predicted to be deficient versus intact, testing multiple indicators of latent constructs and demonstrating construct reliability and validity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanassios Protopapas
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, University of Athens, Ano Ilissia Campus, Zografos 157 71, Greece
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40
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A functionally guided approach to the morphometry of occipitotemporal regions in developmental dyslexia: evidence for differential effects in boys and girls. J Neurosci 2013; 33:11296-301. [PMID: 23825432 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.5854-12.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Developmental dyslexia is a learning disability that specifically affects reading acquisition. Cortical anomalies and gray matter volume differences in various temporal regions have been reported in dyslexic subjects compared with controls. However, consistency between studies is lacking. In the present experiments, we focused our structural analyses on the ventral occipitotemporal regions, defined by their functional response to visual categories. We applied a subject-by-subject functionally guided approach on a total of 76 participants (31 dyslexic children). Cortical thickness was estimated for each participant around his/her peak of specific functional activation to visual words, faces, or places. Results from two independent datasets showed a reduction in thickness in dyslexic children compared with controls in the region responsive to words, in the left hemisphere. Additionally, a gender-by-diagnosis interaction was observed at the same location, due to differences in girls only. To avoid the potential confound of reading level, we also contrasted dyslexic and control children matched for reading performance, and we observed a similar difference, although in a smaller extent of cortex. The present study thus provides the first account of a focal cortical thickness reduction in dyslexia in the subregion of ventral occipitotemporal cortex specifically responsive to visual words, when age, gender, and reading performance are taken into account.
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Humayun S, Kahn RE, Frick PJ, Viding E. Callous-unemotional traits and anxiety in a community sample of 7-year-olds. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY 2013; 43:36-42. [PMID: 23879532 PMCID: PMC4131266 DOI: 10.1080/15374416.2013.814539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
In forensic samples of adults and adolescents, there is evidence to suggest that there may be distinct variants of psychopathy marked by the presence/absence of significant levels of anxiety. Callous-unemotional (CU) traits can be used to characterize children who share behavioural and neurocognitive features with adult psychopaths. The aims of this paper are to (a) investigate the genetic and environmental influences on CU traits with/without anxiety and (b) explore differences in terms of concurrent and early parenting and adjustment. Discrete groups were formed on the basis of scores in the top 10% of the sample on CU and anxiety scales at age 7. Estimates of group heritability were calculated using a Defries-Fulker (DF) extremes regression model. Follow back analyses of early parenting and adjustment were conducted using multivariate analyses of covariance. There was high group heritability for CU traits with/without anxiety. Children with both high CU and anxiety showed greater levels of adjustment problems than those with CU only at age 7. The two groups did not differ in parenting characteristics. In this general population sample, evidence did not support differences in etiology for the two groups high on CU traits differing in level of anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajid Humayun
- a Developmental Risk and Resilience Unit, University College London, Newham College University Centre
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Luciano M, Evans DM, Hansell NK, Medland SE, Montgomery GW, Martin NG, Wright MJ, Bates TC. A genome-wide association study for reading and language abilities in two population cohorts. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2013; 12:645-52. [PMID: 23738518 PMCID: PMC3908370 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2012] [Revised: 03/04/2013] [Accepted: 05/24/2013] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Candidate genes have been identified for both reading and language, but most of the heritable variance in these traits remains unexplained. Here, we report a genome-wide association meta-analysis of two large cohorts: population samples of Australian twins and siblings aged 12–25 years (n = 1177 from 538 families), and a younger cohort of children of the UK Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and their Children (aged 8 and 9 years; maximum n = 5472). Suggestive association was indicated for reading measures and non-word repetition (NWR), with the greatest support found for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the pseudogene, ABCC13 (P = 7.34 × 10−8), and the gene, DAZAP1 (P = 1.32 × 10−6). Gene-based analyses showed significant association (P < 2.8 × 10−6) for reading and spelling with genes CD2L1, CDC2L2 and RCAN3 in two loci on chromosome 1. Some support was found for the same SNPs having effects on both reading skill and NWR, which is compatible with behavior genetic evidence for influences of reading acquisition on phonological-task performance. The results implicate novel candidates for study in additional cohorts for reading and language abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Luciano
- Centre for Cognitive Aging and Cognitive Epidemiology, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
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Evans TM, Flowers DL, Napoliello EM, Eden GF. Sex-specific gray matter volume differences in females with developmental dyslexia. Brain Struct Funct 2013; 219:1041-54. [PMID: 23625146 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-013-0552-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2012] [Accepted: 04/09/2013] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Developmental dyslexia, characterized by unexpected reading difficulty, is associated with anomalous brain anatomy and function. Previous structural neuroimaging studies have converged in reports of less gray matter volume (GMV) in dyslexics within left hemisphere regions known to subserve language. Due to the higher prevalence of dyslexia in males, these studies are heavily weighted towards males, raising the question whether studies of dyslexia in females only and using the same techniques, would generate the same findings. In a replication study of men, we obtained the same findings of less GMV in dyslexics in left middle/inferior temporal gyri and right postcentral/supramarginal gyri as reported in the literature. However, comparisons in women with and without dyslexia did not yield left hemisphere differences, and instead, we found less GMV in right precuneus and paracentral lobule/medial frontal gyrus. In boys, we found less GMV in left inferior parietal cortex (supramarginal/angular gyri), again consistent with previous work, while in girls differences were within right central sulcus, spanning adjacent gyri, and left primary visual cortex. Our investigation into anatomical variants in dyslexia replicates existing studies in males, but at the same time shows that dyslexia in females is not characterized by involvement of left hemisphere language regions but rather early sensory and motor cortices (i.e., motor and premotor cortex, primary visual cortex). Our findings suggest that models on the brain basis of dyslexia, primarily developed through the study of males, may not be appropriate for females and suggest a need for more sex-specific investigations into dyslexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya M Evans
- Center for the Study of Learning, Department of Pediatrics, Georgetown University Medical Center, BOX 571406, Suite 150, Building D, 4000 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
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44
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Lexical decision as an endophenotype for reading comprehension: an exploration of an association. Dev Psychopathol 2013; 24:1345-60. [PMID: 23062302 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579412000752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Based on numerous suggestions in the literature, we evaluated lexical decision (LD) as a putative endophenotype for reading comprehension by investigating heritability estimates and segregation analyses parameter estimates for both of these phenotypes. Specifically, in a segregation analysis of a large sample of families, we established that there is little to no overlap between genes contributing to LD and reading comprehension and that the genetic mechanism behind LD derived from this analysis appears to be more complex than that for reading comprehension. We conclude that in our sample, LD is not a good candidate as an endophenotype for reading comprehension, despite previous suggestions from the literature. Based on this conclusion, we discuss the role and benefit of the endophenotype approach in studies of complex human cognitive functions.
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Logan JAR, Hart SA, Cutting L, Deater-Deckard K, Schatschneider C, Petrill S. Reading development in young children: genetic and environmental influences. Child Dev 2013. [PMID: 23574275 DOI: 10.1111/cdev.12104"] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The development of reading skills in typical students is commonly described as a rapid growth across early grades of active reading education, with a slowing down of growth as active instruction tapers. This study examined the extent to which genetics and environments influence these growth rates. Participants were 371 twin pairs, aged approximately 6 through 12, from the Western Reserve Reading Project. Development of word-level reading, reading comprehension, and rapid naming was examined using genetically sensitive latent quadratic growth curve modeling. Results confirmed the developmental trajectory described in the phenotypic literature. Furthermore, the same shared environmental influences were related to early reading skills and subsequent growth, but genetic influences on these factors were unique.
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46
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Logan JAR, Hart SA, Cutting L, Deater-Deckard K, Schatschneider C, Petrill S. Reading development in young children: genetic and environmental influences. Child Dev 2013; 84:2131-44. [PMID: 23574275 DOI: 10.1111/cdev.12104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The development of reading skills in typical students is commonly described as a rapid growth across early grades of active reading education, with a slowing down of growth as active instruction tapers. This study examined the extent to which genetics and environments influence these growth rates. Participants were 371 twin pairs, aged approximately 6 through 12, from the Western Reserve Reading Project. Development of word-level reading, reading comprehension, and rapid naming was examined using genetically sensitive latent quadratic growth curve modeling. Results confirmed the developmental trajectory described in the phenotypic literature. Furthermore, the same shared environmental influences were related to early reading skills and subsequent growth, but genetic influences on these factors were unique.
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47
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Olson RK, Hulslander J, Christopher M, Keenan JM, Wadsworth SJ, Willcutt EG, Pennington BF, DeFries JC. Genetic and environmental influences on writing and their relations to language and reading. ANNALS OF DYSLEXIA 2013; 63:25-43. [PMID: 21842316 PMCID: PMC3218215 DOI: 10.1007/s11881-011-0055-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2010] [Accepted: 07/11/2011] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Identical and fraternal twins (N=540, age 8 to 18 years) were tested on three different measures of writing (Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Achievement-Writing Samples and Writing Fluency; Handwriting Copy from the Group Diagnostic Reading and Aptitude Achievement Tests), three different language skills (phonological awareness, rapid naming, and vocabulary), and three different reading skills (word recognition, spelling, and reading comprehension). Substantial genetic influence was found on two of the writing measures, writing samples and handwriting copy, and all of the language and reading measures. Shared environment influences were generally not significant, except for Vocabulary. Non-shared environment estimates, including measurement error, were significant for all variables. Genetic influences among the writing measures were significantly correlated (highest between the speeded measures writing fluency and handwriting copy), but there were also significant independent genetic influences between copy and samples and between fluency and samples. Genetic influences on writing were significantly correlated with genetic influences on all of the language and reading skills, but significant independent genetic influences were also found for copy and samples, whose genetic correlations were significantly less than 1.0 with the reading and language skills. The genetic correlations varied significantly in strength depending on the overlap between the writing, language, and reading task demands. We discuss implications of our results for education, limitations of the study, and new directions for research on writing and its relations to language and reading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard K Olson
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado at Boulder, box 345, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
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48
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Tran C, Gagnon F, Wigg K, Feng Y, Gomez L, Cate-Carter T, Kerr E, Field L, Kaplan B, Lovett M, Barr C. A family-based association analysis and meta-analysis of the reading disabilities candidate gene DYX1C1. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2013; 162B:146-56. [PMID: 23341075 PMCID: PMC5381964 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2012] [Accepted: 11/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Reading disabilities (RD) have a significant genetic basis and have shown linkage to multiple regions including chromosome 15q. Dyslexia susceptibility 1 candidate gene 1 (DYX1C1) on chromosome 15q21 was originally proposed as a candidate gene with two potentially functional polymorphisms at the -3G/A and 1249G/T positions showing association with RD. However, subsequent studies have yielded mixed results. We performed a literature review and meta-analysis of the -3G/A and 1249G/T polymorphisms, including new unpublished data from two family-based samples. Ten markers in DYX1C1 were genotyped in the two independently ascertained samples. Single marker and -3G/A:1249G/T haplotype analyses were performed for RD in both samples, and quantitative trait analyses using standardized reading-related measures was performed in one of the samples. For the meta-analysis, we used a random-effects model to summarize studies that tested for association between -3G/A or 1249G/T and RD. No significant association was found between the DYX1C1 SNPs and RD or any of the reading-related measures tested after correction for the number of tests performed. The previously reported risk haplotype (-3A:1249T) was not biased in transmission. A total of 9 and 10 study samples were included in the meta-analysis of the -3G/A and 1249G/T polymorphisms, respectively. Neither polymorphism reached statistical significance, but the heterogeneity for the 1249G/T polymorphism was high. The results of this study do not provide evidence for association between the putatively functional SNPs -3G/A and 1249G/T and RD.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. Tran
- Genetics and Development Division, Toronto Western Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - F. Gagnon
- Division of Epidemiology, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - K.G. Wigg
- Genetics and Development Division, Toronto Western Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Y. Feng
- Genetics and Development Division, Toronto Western Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - L. Gomez
- Genetics and Development Division, Toronto Western Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - T.D. Cate-Carter
- Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - E.N. Kerr
- Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - L.L. Field
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - B.J. Kaplan
- Alberta Children’s Hospital and Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - M.W. Lovett
- Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - C.L. Barr
- Genetics and Development Division, Toronto Western Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada,Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada,Correspondence to: Dr. C.L. Barr, Genetics and Development Division, The Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst St., Room MP14-302, Toronto, ON, Canada M5T 2S8.
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Raskind WH, Peter B, Richards T, Eckert MM, Berninger VW. The genetics of reading disabilities: from phenotypes to candidate genes. Front Psychol 2013; 3:601. [PMID: 23308072 PMCID: PMC3538356 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2012] [Accepted: 12/18/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
This article provides an overview of (a) issues in definition and diagnosis of specific reading disabilities at the behavioral level that may occur in different constellations of developmental and phenotypic profiles (patterns); (b) rapidly expanding research on genetic heterogeneity and gene candidates for dyslexia and other reading disabilities; (c) emerging research on gene-brain relationships; and (d) current understanding of epigenetic mechanisms whereby environmental events may alter behavioral expression of genetic variations. A glossary of genetic terms (denoted by bold font) is provided for readers not familiar with the technical terms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy H Raskind
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington Seattle, WA, USA ; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington Seattle, WA, USA
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50
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Byrne B, Wadsworth SJ, Boehme K, Talk AC, Coventry WL, Olson RK, Samuelsson S, Corley R. Multivariate genetic analysis of learning and early reading development. SCIENTIFIC STUDIES OF READING : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF READING 2013; 17:224-242. [PMID: 23626456 PMCID: PMC3633536 DOI: 10.1080/10888438.2011.654298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The genetic factor structure of a range of learning measures was explored in twin children, recruited in preschool and followed to Grade 2 (total N = 2084). Measures of orthographic learning and word reading were included in the analyses to determine how these patterned with the learning processes. An exploratory factor analysis of the genetic correlations among the variables indicated a three-factor model. Vocabulary tests loaded on the first factor, the Grade 2 measures of word reading and orthographic learning, plus preschool letter knowledge, loaded on the second, and the third was characterized by tests of verbal short-term memory. The three genetic factors correlated, with the second (print) factor showing the most specificity. We conclude that genetically-influenced learning processes underlying print-speech integration, foreshadowed by preschool letter knowledge, have a degree of independence from genetic factors affecting spoken language. We also argue that the psychology and genetics of associative learning be afforded a more central place in studies of reading (dis)ability, and suggest some links to molecular studies of the genetics of learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Byrne
- Discipline of Psychology, School of Behavioural, Cognitive and Social Sciences, University of New England, Department of Behavioral Sciences, Linköping University
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