Potential influence of socioeconomic status on genetic correlations between alcohol consumption measures and mental health
Year: 2019
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption are metrics commonly used to measure alcohol consumption behaviors. Epidemiological studies indicate that these alcohol consumption measures are differentially associated with (mental) health outcomes and socioeconomic status (SES). The current study aims to elucidate to what extent genetic risk factors are shared between frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption, and how these alcohol consumption measures are genetically associated with four broad phenotypic categories: (i) SES; (ii) substance use disorders; (iii) other psychiatric disorders; and (iv) psychological/personality traits. METHODS: Genome-Wide Association analyses were conducted to test genetic associations with alcohol consumption frequency (N = 438 308) and alcohol consumption quantity (N = 307 098 regular alcohol drinkers) within UK Biobank. For the other phenotypes, we used genome-wide association studies summary statistics. Genetic correlations (rg) between the alcohol measures and other phenotypes were estimated using LD score regression. RESULTS: We found a substantial genetic correlation between the frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption (rg = 0.52). Nevertheless, both measures consistently showed opposite genetic correlations with SES traits, and many substance use, psychiatric, and psychological/personality traits. High alcohol consumption frequency was genetically associated with high SES and low risk of substance use disorders and other psychiatric disorders, whereas the opposite applies for high alcohol consumption quantity. CONCLUSIONS: Although the frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption show substantial genetic overlap, they consistently show opposite patterns of genetic associations with SES-related phenotypes. Future studies should carefully consider the potential influence of SES on the shared genetic etiology between alcohol and adverse (mental) health outcomes.
Source: Psychological Medicine
Institutions: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Inserm, Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Fernand-Widal, Université Paris Diderot, Optimisation Thérapeutique en Neuropsychopharmacologie, Université Paris Descartes
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,980
Funders: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Stichting Volksbond Rotterdam, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, University of Queensland, Fondation de France, H. Lundbeck A/S, Medical Research Council, National Health and Medical Research Council, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse
OpenAlex ID: W2921803312