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Stability of genetic and environmental influences on executive functions in midlife.

ABSTRACT: Research on executive functions (EFs) has revealed that individual differences in general EF abilities are highly correlated across the first few decades of life, especially at the level of genetic influences. Our work has also provided evidence for substantial heritability of this Common EF factor in midlife, but it remains unclear whether individual differences in Common EFs continue to show strong stability in middle age. We examined data from 1,464 middle-aged twins from the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging, most of whom completed 7 neuropsychological measures of EFs at 2 points in middle age (Mages = 56 and 62). Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that individual differences in Common EF, a latent factor explaining variation in seven neuropsychological EF tasks, were highly correlated across this 6-year period (r = .97), and that the same genetic and environmental influences were operating across this interval (genetic and shared environmental correlations = 1.0, nonshared environment correlation = .95). Similar phenotypic and genetic stability was observed for a Working Memory (WM)-Specific latent factor, which explained additional variance in working memory span tasks not captured by Common EF (r = .98, genetic correlation = 1.0, nonshared environmental correlation = .88). There was a large mean-level performance decline in Common EF (d = -.60) but not WM-Specific (d = -.03). These results suggest that there is substantial decline in Common EF abilities across middle age but that individual differences are almost perfectly stable. (PsycINFO Database Record

SUBMITTER: Gustavson DE

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5905725 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Stability of genetic and environmental influences on executive functions in midlife.

Gustavson Daniel E DE Panizzon Matthew S MS Elman Jeremy A JA Franz Carol E CE Reynolds Chandra A CA Jacobson Kristen C KC Friedman Naomi P NP Xian Hong H Toomey Rosemary R Lyons Michael J MJ Kremen William S WS

Psychology and aging 20180301 2

Research on executive functions (EFs) has revealed that individual differences in general EF abilities are highly correlated across the first few decades of life, especially at the level of genetic influences. Our work has also provided evidence for substantial heritability of this Common EF factor in midlife, but it remains unclear whether individual differences in Common EFs continue to show strong stability in middle age. We examined data from 1,464 middle-aged twins from the Vietnam Era Twin ...[more]

PMID: 29658745

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Project description:BackgroundPsychotic experiences (PEs) such as paranoia and hallucinations, and negative symptoms (NS) such as anhedonia and flat affect are common in adolescence. Psychotic experiences and negative symptoms (PENS) increase risk for later psychiatric outcomes, particularly when they persist. The extent to which genetic and environmental influences contribute to the stability of PENS in mid-to-late adolescence is unknown.MethodsUsing the Specific Psychotic Experiences Questionnaire (SPEQ) twice across ~9 months in adolescence, N = 1,448 twin pairs [M = 16.32 (0.68)] reported experiences of paranoia, hallucinations, cognitive disorganization, grandiosity and anhedonia, and their parents reported on a range of NS. Individuals were split into low-scoring, decreasing, increasing and persistent groups for each subscale. Frequencies and mean differences in distress, depression traits and emotional problems were investigated across groups. Longitudinal structural equation modelling was used to estimate the aetiological components underlying the stability of PENS.ResultsPhenotypic stability was moderate for all PENS (r = .59-.69). Persistent PENS across 9 months were associated with greater levels of distress (V = 0.15-0.46, for PEs only), depression traits (d = 0.47-1.67, except grandiosity) and emotional problems (d = 0.47-1.47, except grandiosity and anhedonia) at baseline compared to groups with transitory or low levels of PENS. At both ages PENS were heritable and influenced by shared and nonshared environment. Genetic influences contributed 38%-62% and shared environment contributed 13%-33% to the stability of PENS. Nonshared environment contributed 34%-41% (12% for parent-rated NS). There was strong overlap of genetic and shared environmental influences across time, and lower overlap for nonshared environment. Imperfect stability of PENS was at least partly due to nonshared environmental influences.ConclusionsWhen adolescent PENS persist over time, they are often characterized by more distress, and higher levels of other psychopathology. Both genetic and environmental effects influence stability of PENS.

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Stability of genetic and environmental influences on executive functions in midlife.

Publications

Stability of genetic and environmental influences on executive functions in midlife.

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