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Sex differences in genetic and environmental influences on frailty and its relation to body mass index and education.

ABSTRACT: Frailty is influenced by numerous genetic and environmental factors. However, sex differences in how these factors affect frailty, and the gene-environment interplay among frailty and two of its well-established risk factors, unhealthy body mass index (BMI) and low education, are less clear. In a large sample of 42,994 Swedish twins, we used structural equation models to estimate the genetic (heritability) and environmental sources of variance in frailty, defined as the frailty index (FI), separately in men and women. Genetic and individual-specific environmental factors contributed approximately equally to the FI variance. The heritability of FI was slightly, but significantly, higher in women (52%) than in men (45%), yet we found only weak-to-no indication of different sources of genetic variance influencing frailty across sexes. We observed a small-to-moderate genetic overlap between FI and BMI, and that the correlation between FI and education was largely explained by environmental factors common to twins in a pair. Additionally, genetic factors accounted for more of FI variation at both low and high BMI levels, with similar patterns in both sexes. In conclusion, the twin-based heritability of frailty is higher in women than in men, and different mechanisms may underlie the associations of frailty with BMI and education.

SUBMITTER: Mak JKL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8312411 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Sex differences in genetic and environmental influences on frailty and its relation to body mass index and education.

Mak Jonathan K L JKL Reynolds Chandra A CA Hägg Sara S Li Xia X Ericsson Malin M Pedersen Nancy L NL Jylhävä Juulia J Kuja-Halkola Ralf R

Aging 20210706 13

Frailty is influenced by numerous genetic and environmental factors. However, sex differences in how these factors affect frailty, and the gene-environment interplay among frailty and two of its well-established risk factors, unhealthy body mass index (BMI) and low education, are less clear. In a large sample of 42,994 Swedish twins, we used structural equation models to estimate the genetic (heritability) and environmental sources of variance in frailty, defined as the frailty index (FI), separ ...[more]

PMID: 34230219

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Project description:Background/objectivesThe brain has a central role in regulating ingestive behavior in obesity. Analogous to addiction behaviors, an imbalance in the processing of rewarding and salient stimuli results in maladaptive eating behaviors that override homeostatic needs. We performed network analysis based on graph theory to examine the association between body mass index (BMI) and network measures of integrity, information flow and global communication (centrality) in reward, salience and sensorimotor regions and to identify sex-related differences in these parameters.Subjects/methodsStructural and diffusion tensor imaging were obtained in a sample of 124 individuals (61 males and 63 females). Graph theory was applied to calculate anatomical network properties (centrality) for regions of the reward, salience and sensorimotor networks. General linear models with linear contrasts were performed to test for BMI and sex-related differences in measures of centrality, while controlling for age.ResultsIn both males and females, individuals with high BMI (obese and overweight) had greater anatomical centrality (greater connectivity) of reward (putamen) and salience (anterior insula) network regions. Sex differences were observed both in individuals with normal and elevated BMI. In individuals with high BMI, females compared to males showed greater centrality in reward (amygdala, hippocampus and nucleus accumbens) and salience (anterior mid-cingulate cortex) regions, while males compared to females had greater centrality in reward (putamen) and sensorimotor (posterior insula) regions.ConclusionsIn individuals with increased BMI, reward, salience and sensorimotor network regions are susceptible to topological restructuring in a sex-related manner. These findings highlight the influence of these regions on integrative processing of food-related stimuli and increased ingestive behavior in obesity, or in the influence of hedonic ingestion on brain topological restructuring. The observed sex differences emphasize the importance of considering sex differences in obesity pathophysiology.

Project description:Dietary and physical activity behaviors formed early in life can increase risk for childhood obesity and have continued negative consequences for lifelong health. Previous research has highlighted the importance of both genetic and environmental (e.g., cultural environment or parental lifestyle) contributions to obesity risk, although these studies typically involve genetically-related individuals residing in the same household, where genetic similarity and rearing environment are inextricably linked. Here we utilize a sibling-adoption design to independently estimate genetic and environmental contributions to obesity risk in childhood and describe how these influences might vary as children age. As part of a prospective adoption study, the current investigation used data from biological siblings reared either apart or together, and nonbiological siblings reared together to estimate the contributions of genetics and environment to body mass indices (BMI) in a large cohort of children (N = 711). We used a variance partitioning model to allocate variation in BMI to that which is due to shared genetics, common environment, or unique environment in this cohort during middle childhood and adolescence. We found 63% of the total variance in BMI could be attributed to heritable factors in middle childhood sibling pairs (age 5-11.99; 95% CI [0.41,0.85]). Additionally, we observed that common environment explained 31% of variation in BMI in this group (95% CI [0.11,0.5]), with unique environment and error explaining the remaining variance. We failed to detect an influence of genetics or common environment in older sibling pairs (12-18) or pairs spanning childhood and adolescence (large sibling age difference), but home type (adoptive versus birth) was an important predictor of BMI in adolescence. The presence of strong common environment effects during childhood suggests that early interventions at the family level in middle childhood could be effective in mitigating obesity risk in later childhood and adolescence.

Project description:BackgroundPregestational excessive body mass index (BMI) is linked to an increased risk for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), but less is known on the effect of adolescent BMI on GDM occurrence. The study aimed to investigate possible associations of adolescent BMI and changes in BMI experienced before first pregnancy, with gestational diabetes risk.MethodsThis retrospective study was based on linkage of a military screening database of adolescent health status (Israel Defence Forces) including measured height and weight, with medical records (Maccabi Healthcare Services, MHS) of a state-mandated health provider. The latter covers about 25% of the Israeli population; about 90% of pregnant women undergo screening by the two-step Carpenter-Coustan method. Adolescent BMI was categorized according to Center of Disease Control and Prevention percentiles. Only first documented pregnanies were analyzed and GDM was the outcome.FindingsOf 190,905 nulliparous women, 10,265 (5.4%) developed GDM. Incidence proportions of GDM were 5.1%, 6.1%, 7.3%, and 8.9% among women with adolescent normal BMI, underweight, overweight, and obesity (p<0.001), respectively. In models that accounted for age at pregnancy, birth year, and sociodemographic variables, the adjusted odd ratios (aORs) for developing GDM were: 1.2 (95%CI, 1.1-1.3), 1.5 (1.4-1.6), and 1.9 (1.7-2.1) for adolescent underweight, overweight, and obesity (reference group, normal BMI). Adolescent BMI tracked with BMI notes in the pre-pregnancy period (r=63%). Resuming normal pre-pregnancy BMI from overweight or obesity in adolescence diminished GDM risk, but this diminished risk was not observed among those who returned to a normal per-pre-pregnancy BMI from being underweight in adolescence. Sustained overweight or obesity conferred an aOR for developing GDM of 2.5 (2.2-2.7); weight gain from adolescent underweight and normal BMI to pre-pregnancy excessive BMI conferred aORs of 3.1 (1.6-6.2) and 2.6 (2.2-2.7), respectively.InterpretationChange in BMI status from adolescence to pre-pregnancy may contribute to GDM risk. Identifying at-risk populations is important for early preventive interventions.FundingNone.

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Sex differences in genetic and environmental influences on frailty and its relation to body mass index and education.

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Sex differences in genetic and environmental influences on frailty and its relation to body mass index and education.

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