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 (r g ) 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 (r g = 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.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Psychological Medicine |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2019 |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- Alcohol consumption
- genetic correlation
- genetics
- socioeconomic status
- substance use
Cite this
}
Potential influence of socioeconomic status on genetic correlations between alcohol consumption measures and mental health. / Marees, Andries T.; Smit, Dirk J.A.; Ong, Jue Sheng; Macgregor, Stuart; An, Jiyuan; Denys, Damiaan; Vorspan, Florence; Van Den Brink, Wim; Derks, Eske M.
In: Psychological Medicine, 01.01.2019.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Potential influence of socioeconomic status on genetic correlations between alcohol consumption measures and mental health
AU - Marees, Andries T.
AU - Smit, Dirk J.A.
AU - Ong, Jue Sheng
AU - Macgregor, Stuart
AU - An, Jiyuan
AU - Denys, Damiaan
AU - Vorspan, Florence
AU - Van Den Brink, Wim
AU - Derks, Eske M.
PY - 2019/1/1
Y1 - 2019/1/1
N2 - 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 (r g ) 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 (r g = 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.
AB - 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 (r g ) 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 (r g = 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.
KW - Alcohol consumption
KW - genetic correlation
KW - genetics
KW - socioeconomic status
KW - substance use
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85063142508&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85063142508&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S0033291719000357
DO - 10.1017/S0033291719000357
M3 - Article
JO - Psychological Medicine
JF - Psychological Medicine
SN - 0033-2917
ER -