Molecular genetic contributions to socioeconomic status and intelligence

Riccardo E. Marioni; Gail Davies; Caroline Hayward; David Liewald; Shona M. Kerr; Archie Campbell; Michelle Luciano; Blair H. Smith; Sandosh Padmanabhan; Lynne J. Hocking; Nicholas D. Hastie; Alan F. Wright; David J. Porteous; Peter M. Visscher; Ian J. Deary

doi:10.1016/j.intell.2014.02.006

Molecular genetic contributions to socioeconomic status and intelligence

Riccardo E. Marioni, Gail Davies, Caroline Hayward, David Liewald, Shona M. Kerr, Archie Campbell, Michelle Luciano, Blair H. Smith, Sandosh Padmanabhan, Lynne J. Hocking, Nicholas D. Hastie, Alan F. Wright, David J. Porteous, Peter M. Visscher, Ian J. Deary

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract / Description of output

Education, socioeconomic status, and intelligence are commonly used as predictors of health outcomes, social environment, and mortality. Education and socioeconomic status are typically viewed as environmental variables although both correlate with intelligence, which has a substantial genetic basis. Using data from 6815 unrelated subjects from the Generation Scotland study, we examined the genetic contributions to these variables and their genetic correlations. Subjects underwent genome-wide testing for common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). DNA-derived heritability estimates and genetic correlations were calculated using the ‘Genome-wide Complex Trait Analyses’ (GCTA) procedures. 21% of the variation in education, 18% of the variation in socioeconomic status, and 29% of the variation in general cognitive ability was explained by variation in common SNPs (SEs ~ 5%). The SNP-based genetic correlations of education and socioeconomic status with general intelligence were 0.95 (SE 0.13) and 0.26 (0.16), respectively. There are genetic contributions to intelligence and education with near-complete overlap between common additive SNP effects on these traits (genetic correlation ~ 1). Genetic influences on socioeconomic status are also associated with the genetic foundations of intelligence. The results are also compatible with substantial environmental contributions to socioeconomic status.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	26-32
Journal	Intelligence
Volume	44
Issue number	100
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intell.2014.02.006
Publication status	Published - 1 May 2014

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

Generation Scotland
Intelligence
Education

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10.1016/j.intell.2014.02.006

1-s2.0-S0160289614000178-main
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Final published version, 223 KB

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
Cognitive change in older persons: the assessment of cognitive decline, its relation to neural pathologies, and determining the potential for intervention to delay or prevent the onset of dementia
Marioni, R.
UK-based charities
1/10/12 → 31/08/14
Project: Research
Generation Scotland
Porteous, D.
UK central government bodies/local authorities, health and hospital authorities
1/04/11 → 31/03/14
Project: Research

Cite this

Marioni, R. E., Davies, G., Hayward, C., Liewald, D., Kerr, S. M., Campbell, A., Luciano, M., Smith, B. H., Padmanabhan, S., Hocking, L. J., Hastie, N. D., Wright, A. F., Porteous, D. J., Visscher, P. M., & Deary, I. J. (2014). Molecular genetic contributions to socioeconomic status and intelligence. Intelligence, 44(100), 26-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intell.2014.02.006

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title = "Molecular genetic contributions to socioeconomic status and intelligence",

abstract = "Education, socioeconomic status, and intelligence are commonly used as predictors of health outcomes, social environment, and mortality. Education and socioeconomic status are typically viewed as environmental variables although both correlate with intelligence, which has a substantial genetic basis. Using data from 6815 unrelated subjects from the Generation Scotland study, we examined the genetic contributions to these variables and their genetic correlations. Subjects underwent genome-wide testing for common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). DNA-derived heritability estimates and genetic correlations were calculated using the {\textquoteleft}Genome-wide Complex Trait Analyses{\textquoteright} (GCTA) procedures. 21% of the variation in education, 18% of the variation in socioeconomic status, and 29% of the variation in general cognitive ability was explained by variation in common SNPs (SEs ~ 5%). The SNP-based genetic correlations of education and socioeconomic status with general intelligence were 0.95 (SE 0.13) and 0.26 (0.16), respectively. There are genetic contributions to intelligence and education with near-complete overlap between common additive SNP effects on these traits (genetic correlation ~ 1). Genetic influences on socioeconomic status are also associated with the genetic foundations of intelligence. The results are also compatible with substantial environmental contributions to socioeconomic status.",

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author = "Marioni, {Riccardo E.} and Gail Davies and Caroline Hayward and David Liewald and Kerr, {Shona M.} and Archie Campbell and Michelle Luciano and Smith, {Blair H.} and Sandosh Padmanabhan and Hocking, {Lynne J.} and Hastie, {Nicholas D.} and Wright, {Alan F.} and Porteous, {David J.} and Visscher, {Peter M.} and Deary, {Ian J.}",

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AU - Campbell, Archie

AU - Luciano, Michelle

AU - Smith, Blair H.

AU - Padmanabhan, Sandosh

AU - Hocking, Lynne J.

AU - Hastie, Nicholas D.

AU - Wright, Alan F.

AU - Porteous, David J.

AU - Visscher, Peter M.

AU - Deary, Ian J.

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N2 - Education, socioeconomic status, and intelligence are commonly used as predictors of health outcomes, social environment, and mortality. Education and socioeconomic status are typically viewed as environmental variables although both correlate with intelligence, which has a substantial genetic basis. Using data from 6815 unrelated subjects from the Generation Scotland study, we examined the genetic contributions to these variables and their genetic correlations. Subjects underwent genome-wide testing for common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). DNA-derived heritability estimates and genetic correlations were calculated using the ‘Genome-wide Complex Trait Analyses’ (GCTA) procedures. 21% of the variation in education, 18% of the variation in socioeconomic status, and 29% of the variation in general cognitive ability was explained by variation in common SNPs (SEs ~ 5%). The SNP-based genetic correlations of education and socioeconomic status with general intelligence were 0.95 (SE 0.13) and 0.26 (0.16), respectively. There are genetic contributions to intelligence and education with near-complete overlap between common additive SNP effects on these traits (genetic correlation ~ 1). Genetic influences on socioeconomic status are also associated with the genetic foundations of intelligence. The results are also compatible with substantial environmental contributions to socioeconomic status.

AB - Education, socioeconomic status, and intelligence are commonly used as predictors of health outcomes, social environment, and mortality. Education and socioeconomic status are typically viewed as environmental variables although both correlate with intelligence, which has a substantial genetic basis. Using data from 6815 unrelated subjects from the Generation Scotland study, we examined the genetic contributions to these variables and their genetic correlations. Subjects underwent genome-wide testing for common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). DNA-derived heritability estimates and genetic correlations were calculated using the ‘Genome-wide Complex Trait Analyses’ (GCTA) procedures. 21% of the variation in education, 18% of the variation in socioeconomic status, and 29% of the variation in general cognitive ability was explained by variation in common SNPs (SEs ~ 5%). The SNP-based genetic correlations of education and socioeconomic status with general intelligence were 0.95 (SE 0.13) and 0.26 (0.16), respectively. There are genetic contributions to intelligence and education with near-complete overlap between common additive SNP effects on these traits (genetic correlation ~ 1). Genetic influences on socioeconomic status are also associated with the genetic foundations of intelligence. The results are also compatible with substantial environmental contributions to socioeconomic status.

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DO - 10.1016/j.intell.2014.02.006

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SP - 26

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JO - Intelligence

JF - Intelligence

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ER -

Molecular genetic contributions to socioeconomic status and intelligence

Abstract / Description of output

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

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Projects

RA2661 Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology Phase 2. Main Budget.

Cognitive change in older persons: the assessment of cognitive decline, its relation to neural pathologies, and determining the potential for intervention to delay or prevent the onset of dementia

Generation Scotland

Cite this