Hair Cortisol in Twins: Heritability and Genetic Overlap with Psychological Variables and Stress-System Genes.

ABSTRACT: Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) is a promising measure of long-term hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity. Previous research has suggested an association between HCC and psychological variables, and initial studies of inter-individual variance in HCC have implicated genetic factors. However, whether HCC and psychological variables share genetic risk factors remains unclear. The aims of the present twin study were to: (i) assess the heritability of HCC; (ii) estimate the phenotypic and genetic correlation between HPA axis activity and the psychological variables perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and neuroticism; using formal genetic twin models and molecular genetic methods, i.e. polygenic risk scores (PRS). HCC was measured in 671 adolescents and young adults. These inc

SUBMITTER: Rietschel L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5703444 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature