Genetic variants linked to education predict longevity
Authors: Marioni Riccardo E. , Ritchie Stuart J. , Joshi Peter K. , Hagenaars Saskia P. , Okbay Aysu , Fischer Krista , Adams Mark J. , Hill W. David , Davies Gail ,   Social Science Genetic Association Consortium, Nagy Reka , Amador Carmen , Läll Kristi , Metspalu Andres , Liewald David C. , Campbell Archie , Wilson James F. , Hayward Caroline , Esko Tõnu , Porteous David J. , Gale Catharine R. , Deary Ian J. , Okbay Aysu , Beauchamp Jonathan P. , Fontana Mark A. , Lee James J. , Pers Tune H. , Rietveld Cornelius A. , Turley Patrick , Chen181 Guo-Bo , Emilsson Valur , Meddens S. Fleur W. , Oskarsson Sven , Pickrell Joseph K. , Thom Kevin , Timshel Pascal , de Vlaming Ronald , Abdellaoui Abdel , Ahluwalia Tarunveer S. , Bacelis Jonas , Baumbach Clemens , Bjornsdottir Gyda , Brandsma Johannes H. , Concas Maria Pina , Derringer Jaime , Furlotte Nicholas A. , Galesloot Tessel E. , Girotto Giorgia , Gupta Richa , Hall Leanne M. , Harris Sarah E. , Hofer Edith , Horikoshi Momoko , Huffman Jennifer E. , Kaasik Kadri , Kalafati Ioanna P. , Karlsson Robert , Kong Augustine , Lahti Jari , van der Lee Sven J. , de Leeuw Christiaan , Lind Penelope A. , Lindgren Karl-Oskar , Liu Tian , Mangino Massimo , Marten Jonathan , Mihailov Evelin , Miller Michael B. , van der Most Peter J. , Oldmeadow Christopher , Payton Antony , Pervjakova Natalia , Peyrot Wouter J. , Qian Yong , Raitakari Olli , Rueedi Rico , Salvi Erika , Schmidt Börge , Schraut Katharina E. , Shi Jianxin , Smith Albert V. , Poot Raymond A. , St Pourcain Beate , Teumer Alexander , Thorleifsson Gudmar , Verweij Niek , Vuckovic Dragana , Wellmann Juergen , Westra Harm-Jan , Yang Jingyun , Zhao Wei , Zhu Zhihong , Alizadeh Behrooz Z. , Amin Najaf , Bakshi Andrew , Baumeister Sebastian E. , Biino Ginevra , Bønnelykke Klaus , Boyle Patricia A. , Campbell Harry , Cappuccio Francesco P. , Davies Gail , De Neve Jan-Emmanuel , Deloukas Panos , Demuth Ilja , Ding Jun , Eibich Peter , Eisele Lewin , Eklund Niina , Evans David M. , Faul Jessica D. , Feitosa Mary F. , Forstner Andreas J. , Gandin Ilaria , Gunnarsson Bjarni , Halldórsson Bjarni V. , Harris Tamara B. , Heath Andrew C. , Hocking Lynne J. , Holliday Elizabeth G. , Homuth Georg , Horan Michael A. , Hottenga Jouke-Jan , de Jager Philip L. , Joshi Peter K. , Jugessur Astanand , Kaakinen Marika A. , Kähönen Mika , Kanoni Stavroula , Keltigangas-Järvinen Liisa , Kiemeney Lambertus A.L.M. , Kolcic Ivana , Koskinen Seppo , Kraja Aldi T. , Kroh Martin , Kutalik Zoltan , Latvala Antti , Launer Lenore J. , Lebreton Maël P. , Levinson Douglas F. , Lichtenstein Paul , Lichtner Peter , Liewald David C.M. ,   LifeLines Cohort Study, Loukola Anu , Madden Pamela A. , Mägi Reedik , Mäki-Opas Tomi , Marioni Riccardo E. , Marques-Vidal Pedro , Meddens Gerardus A. , McMahon George , Meisinger Christa , Meitinger Thomas , Milaneschi Yusplitri , Milani Lili , Montgomery Grant W. , Myhre Ronny , Nelson Christopher P. , Nyholt Dale R. , Ollier William E.R. , Palotie Aarno , Paternoster Lavinia , Pedersen Nancy L. , Petrovic Katja E. , Porteous David J. , Räikkönen Katri , Ring Susan M. , Robino Antonietta , Rostapshova Olga , Rudan Igor , Rustichini Aldo , Salomaa Veikko , Sanders Alan R. , Sarin Antti-Pekka , Schmidt Helena , Scott Rodney J. , Smith Blair H. , Smith Jennifer A. , Staessen Jan A. , Steinhagen-Thiessen Elisabeth , Strauch Konstantin , Terracciano Antonio , Tobin Martin D. , Ulivi Sheila , Vaccargiu Simona , Quaye Lydia , van Rooij Frank J.A. , Venturini Cristina , Vinkhuyzen Anna A.E. , Völker Uwe , Völzke Henry , Vonk Judith M. , Vozzi Diego , Waage Johannes , Ware Erin B. , Willemsen Gonneke , Attia John R. , Bennett David A. , Berger Klaus , Bertram Lars , Bisgaard Hans , Boomsma Dorret I. , Borecki Ingrid B. , Bultmann Ute , Chabris Christopher F. , Cucca Francesco , Cusi Daniele , Deary Ian J. , Dedoussis George V. , van Duijn Cornelia M. , Eriksson Johan G. , Franke Barbara , Franke Lude , Gasparini Paolo , Gejman Pablo V. , Gieger Christian , Grabe Hans-Jörgen , Gratten Jacob , Groenen Patrick J.F. , Gudnason Vilmundur , van der Harst Pim , Hayward Caroline , Hinds David A. , Hoffmann Wolfgang , Hypponen Elina , Iacono William G. , Jacobsson Bo , Järvelin Marjo- Riitta , Jöckel Karl-Heinz , Kaprio Jaakko , Kardia Sharon L.R. , Lehtimäki Terho , Lehrer Steven F. , Magnusson Patrik K.E. , Martin Nicholas G. , McGue Matt , Metspalu Andres , Pendleton Neil , Penninx Brenda W.J.H. , Perola Markus , Pirastu Nicola , Pirastu Mario , Polasek Ozren , Posthuma Danielle , Power Christine , Province Michael A. , Samani Nilesh J. , Schlessinger David , Schmidt Reinhold , Sørensen Thorkild I.A. , Spector Tim D. , Stefansson Kari , Thorsteinsdottir Unnur , Thurik A. Roy , Timpson Nicholas J. , Tiemeier Henning , Tung Joyce Y. , Uitterlinden André G. , Vitart Veronique , Vollenweider Peter , Weir David R. , Wilson James F. , Wright Alan F. , Conley Dalton C. , Krueger Robert F. , Smith George Davey , Hofman Albert , Laibson David I. , Medland Sarah E. , Meyer Michelle N. , Yang Jian , Johannesson Magnus , Visscher Peter M. , Esko Tõnu , Koellinger Philipp D. , Cesarini David , Benjamin Daniel J. 
Published: November 2016

Significance

Individuals with more education tend to live longer. Genetic variants have been discovered that predict educational attainment. We tested whether a “polygenic score” based on these genetic variants could make predictions about people’s lifespan. We used data from three cohort studies (including >130,000 participants) to examine the link between offspring polygenic score for education and parental longevity. Across the studies, we found that participants with more education-linked genetic variants had longer-living parents; compared with those with the lowest genetic education scores, those with the highest scores had parents who lived on average 6 months longer. This finding suggests the hypothesis that part of the ultimate explanation for the extended longevity of better-educated people is an underlying, quantifiable, genetic propensity.