Genetic propensities for verbal and spatial ability have opposite effects on body mass index and risk of schizophrenia

Jonsdottir, Gudrun A.; Einarsson, Gudmundur; Thorleifsson, Gudmar; Magnusson, Sigurdur H.; Gunnarsson, Arni F.; Frigge, Michael L.; Gisladottir, Rosa S.; Unnsteinsdottir, Unnur; Gunnarsson, Bjarni; Walters, G. Bragi; Steinthorsdottir, Valgerdur; Helgadottir, Anna; Jonsdottir, Ingileif; Gislason, Thorsteinn; Thorsteinsson, Haraldur S.; Sigurdsson, Engilbert; Haraldsson, Magnus; Sigurdsson, Emil L.; Bjarnason, Ragnar; Olafsson, Isleifur; Thorgeirsson, Gudmundur; Sulem, Patrick; Holm, Hilma; Thorsteinsdottir, Unnur; Gudbjartsson, Daniel F.; Bjornsdottir, Gyda; Thorgeirsson, Thorgeir E.; Stefansson, Hreinn; Stefansson, Kari

Genetic propensities for verbal and spatial ability have opposite effects on body mass index and risk of schizophrenia

Gudrun A. Jonsdottir, Gudmundur Einarsson, Gudmar Thorleifsson, Sigurdur H. Magnusson, Arni F. Gunnarsson, Michael L. Frigge, Rosa S. Gisladottir, Unnur Unnsteinsdottir, Bjarni Gunnarsson, G. Bragi Walters, Valgerdur Steinthorsdottir, Anna Helgadottir, Ingileif Jonsdottir, Thorsteinn Gislason, Haraldur S. Thorsteinsson, Engilbert Sigurdsson, Magnus Haraldsson, Emil L. Sigurdsson, Ragnar Bjarnason, Isleifur Olafsson, Gudmundur Thorgeirsson, Patrick Sulem, Hilma Holm, Unnur Thorsteinsdottir, Daniel F. Gudbjartsson, Gyda Bjornsdottir, Thorgeir E. Thorgeirsson, Hreinn Stefansson and Kari Stefansson

Intelligence, 2021, vol. 88, issue C

Abstract: We generated two polygenic scores, one capturing verbal and the other spatial aspects of cognitive ability, using UK Biobank data and studied their effects on various diseases and other traits in the Icelandic population. The score tagging spatial ability associated with higher body mass index (β = 0.032, p = 3.2 × 10−13), but lower risk of schizophrenia (OR = 0.82, p = 8.8 × 10−9) and other mental disorders. Furthermore, it associated with less openness, a personality trait reflecting curiosity and creativity (β = −0.023, p = 1.3 × 10−4). Conversely, the score tagging verbal ability associated with lower body mass index (β = −0.023, p = 1.6 × 10−7) and more openness (β = 0.045, p = 3.5 × 10−14), but did not associate with risk of schizophrenia (OR = 0.97, p = 0.42). Furthermore, applying genomic structural equation modeling, we observed that the genetic component of verbal ability associated positively with the genetic component of schizophrenia after conditioning on the g factor (bg = 0.193, p = 5.4 × 10−4). Thus, at the genetic level, verbal and spatial ability exhibit contrasting associations with indicators of mental and physical health, as well as with personality.

Keywords: Intelligence; Cognitive ability; Health; Body mass index; Schizophrenia; Personality; Learning disability; Polygenic score (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:intell:v:88:y:2021:i:c:s0160289621000490

DOI: 10.1016/j.intell.2021.101565

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