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Polygenic risk for alcohol misuse is moderated by romantic partnerships.
Journal Title
Addiction (Abingdon, England)
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2019-07-30
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114
Publication Issue
10
Publication Begin
1753
Publication End
1762
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nihms-1565213.pdf
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Abstract
Background and aims: Previous twin research suggests relationship status can moderate underlying genetic liability towards alcohol misuse. This paper examined: (1) whether genome-wide polygenic scores (GPS) for alcohol consumption are associated with alcohol misuse; (2) whether these GPS are moderated by romantic relationships (gene-environment interaction; G × E) and (3) whether G × E results are consistent across sex.
Design: Linear mixed-effects models were used to test associations between genome-wide polygenic scores, relationship status and alcohol use/misuse.
Setting: Finnish twins born between 1983 and 1987 identified through Finland's central population registry.
Participants: An intensively studied subset of Finnish Twin Study (FinnTwin12) during the young adult phase (aged 20-26 years). The analytical sample includes those with complete interview and genetic data (n = 1201).
Measurements: Key measurements included involvement in a romantic partnership, drinking frequency, intoxication frequency and DSM-IV alcohol dependence (AD) symptoms. Genome-wide polygenic scores (GPS) were created from available summary statistics from a large genome-wide association study (GWAS) of drinks per week.
Results: GPS predicted drinking frequency [b = 0.109; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.050, 0.168], intoxication frequency (b = 0.111; 95% CI = 0.054, 0.168) and AD symptoms (b = 0.123; 95% CI = 0.064, 0.182). Having a romantic relationship negatively influenced the association between GPS and drinking frequency (b = -0.105; 95% CI = -0.211, -0.001), intoxication frequency (b = -0.118; 95% CI = -0.220, -0.016) and AD symptoms (b = -0.119; 95% CI = -0.229, -0.009). There was a three-way interaction between sex, relationship status and GPS for intoxication frequency (b = 0.223; 95% CI = 0.013, 0.433), such that the reduced association between GPS and intoxication frequency for those in a relationship was only apparent in males. We found no evidence of three-way interactions for drinking frequency or AD symptoms.
Conclusions: Being in a romantic relationship reduced the association between genetic predisposition and drinking, high-risk drinking and alcohol problems. However, for high-risk drinking the protective effect was limited to males, mapping onto earlier findings suggesting that males benefit more from romantic partnerships.
Citation
Barr PB, Kuo SI, Aliev F, Latvala A, Viken R, Rose RJ, Kaprio J, Salvatore JE, Dick DM. Polygenic risk for alcohol misuse is moderated by romantic partnerships. Addiction. 2019 Oct;114(10):1753-1762. doi: 10.1111/add.14712. Epub 2019 Jul 30. PMID: 31240774; PMCID: PMC7108791.