Journal Article

Continuity of Genetic Risk for Aggressive Behavior Across the Life-Course

Bønnelykke Klaus, Vrijkotte Tanja, Morosoli, José J, Whitehouse, Andrew, Quiroga Josep Antoni Ramos, Aliev Fazil, McAloney Kerrie, Haavik, Jan, van de Weijer Steve G A, Bosch, Rosa, Wadsworth, Sally, Madden, Pamela, Hopfer, Christian, Pennell, Craig E, Parker, Richard, Vuoksimaa Eero, Lehtimäki Terho, Johansson, Stefan, Standl Marie, Sánchez-Mora, Cristina, Jouke-Jan, Hottenga, Sass Lærke, Knudsen, Gun Peggy, Korhonen Tellervo, Miller, Allison, Karhunen Ville, McGue Matt, Prinz, Joseph A, Henders, Anjali K, Lundström, Sebastian, Corley, Robin, Smith, George Davey, Klump, Kelly L, Tiemeier Henning, Rovira, Paula, Mamun Abdullah, Sugden, Karen, Ip, Hill F, Whipp, Alyce M, Van Beijsterveldt Toos C E M, Boden, Joseph, Raitakari, Olli T, Middeldorp Christel, Lichtenstein, Paul, Martin, Joanna, Hickie, Ian B, Bartels Meike, Pool René, Casas Miquel, Uitterlinden, André G, Costello, Elizabeth J, Vilor-Tejedor Natàlia, Grasby Katrina, Rose, Richard J, Reichborn-Kjennerud Ted, Gordon, Scott, Heinrich, Joachim, Copeland, William E, Adkins, Daniel E, Njolstad Pal Rasmus, Stallings, Michael, Saunders, Gretchen, Lu, Qing

2021

Overview

We test whether genetic influences that explain individual differences in aggression in early life also explain individual differences across the life-course. In two cohorts from The Netherlands (N = 13,471) and Australia (N = 5628), polygenic scores (PGSs) were computed based on a genome-wide meta-analysis of childhood/adolescence aggression. In a novel analytic approach, we ran a mixed effects model for each age (Netherlands: 12–70 years, Australia: 16–73 years), with observations at the focus age weighted as 1, and decaying weights for ages further away. We call this approach a ‘rolling weights’ model. In The Netherlands, the estimated effect of the PGS was relatively similar from age 12 to age 41, and decreased from age 41–70. In Australia, there was a peak in the effect of the PGS around age 40 years. These results are a first indication from a molecular genetics perspective that genetic influences on aggressive behavior that are expressed in childhood continue to play a role later in life.

• Publisher: Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Age / Age differences / Aggression / Aggressive behavior / Aggressiveness / Childhood / Children / Genetic susceptibility / Genetics / Genomes / Genomics / Individual differences / Life course / Life events / Meta-analysis / Molecular genetics / Systematic review