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Abstract
General cognitive function is substantially heritable across the human life course from adolescence to old age. We investigated the genetic contribution to variation in this important, health- and well-being-related trait in middle-aged and older adults. We conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies of 31 cohorts (N=53 949) in which the participants had undertaken multiple, diverse cognitive tests. A general cognitive function phenotype was tested for, and created in each cohort by principal component analysis. We report 13 genome-wide significant single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) associations in three genomic regions, 6q16.1, 14q12 and 19q13.32 (best SNP and closest gene, respectively: rs10457441, P=3.93 × 10−9, MIR2113; rs17522122, P=2.55 × 10−8, AKAP6; rs10119, P=5.67 × 10−9, APOE/TOMM40). We report one gene-based significant association with the HMGN1 gene located on chromosome 21 (P=1 × 10−6). These genes have previously been associated with neuropsychiatric phenotypes. Meta-analysis results are consistent with a polygenic model of inheritance. To estimate SNP-based heritability, the genome-wide complex trait analysis procedure was applied to two large cohorts, the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (N=6617) and the Health and Retirement Study (N=5976). The proportion of phenotypic variation accounted for by all genotyped common SNPs was 29% (s.e.=5%) and 28% (s.e.=7%), respectively. Using polygenic prediction analysis, ~1.2% of the variance in general cognitive function was predicted in the Generation Scotland cohort (N=5487; P=1.5 × 10−17). In hypothesis-driven tests, there was significant association between general cognitive function and four genes previously associated with Alzheimer’s disease: TOMM40, APOE, ABCG1 and MEF2C.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 183-192 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Molecular Psychiatry |
Volume | 20 |
Issue number | 2 |
Early online date | 3 Feb 2015 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 28 Feb 2015 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- CPG-BINDING PROTEIN-2
- ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE
- HUMAN INTELLIGENCE
- APOLIPOPROTEIN-E
- OLD-AGE
- SUSCEPTIBILITY LOCI
- IDENTIFIES VARIANTS
- TEST BATTERIES
- TYPE-4 ALLELE
- HUMAN HEIGHT
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Dive into the research topics of 'Genetic contributions to variation in general cognitive function: a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies in the CHARGE consortium (N=53 949)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 7 Finished
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RA2661 Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology Phase 2. Main Budget.
Deary, I., Gale, C., Holmes, M., Logie, P., Maclullich, A., Porteous, D., Seckl, J., Starr, J., Wardlaw, J. & Okely, J.
1/09/13 → 31/08/19
Project: Research
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A Hundred at Ninety: the common cause Hypothesis of Ageing tested in four waves of the Lothian Birth Cohort 1921
Deary, I., Bates, T., Gow, A. & Starr, J.
UK central government bodies/local authorities, health and hospital authorities
1/01/11 → 31/12/12
Project: Research
Profiles
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Gail Davies
- School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences - Senior Research Fellow
- Edinburgh Neuroscience
Person: Academic: Research Active (Research Assistant)