scholarly journals Genetic and Environmental Influences on Individual Differences in Sleep Duration During Adolescence

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 1015-1025 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saskia J. te Velde ◽  
Niels van der Aa ◽  
Dorret I. Boomsma ◽  
Eus J. W. van Someren ◽  
Eco J. C. de Geus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Sleep Duration ◽  
Substantial Part ◽  
Age Variation ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Adolescent Twins ◽  
Age Range ◽  
Insight Into

This study assessed to what extent genetic and environmental factors contributed to individual differences in adolescent sleep duration, and whether genetic and environmental contributions to sleep duration changed throughout adolescence. A twin-family design was used to gain insight into the genetic and environmental contributions to variation in sleep duration. The study sample consisted of 6,319 adolescent twins (44% males) and 1,359 non-twin siblings (44% males) in the age range of 12 to 20 years (mean age = 16.85,SD= 1.40). The participants self-reported usual sleep duration, which was categorized as less than 8 hours per night, 8–9 hours per night, and more than 9 hours per night. Results showed that the prevalence of shorter than optimum sleep duration, that is, less than 8 hours per night, was high, with the highest prevalence rates in later adolescence. The contribution of genetic and environmental factors to individual differences in sleep duration was dependent on age. Variation in sleep duration at the age of 12 years was accounted for by genetic (boys: 34%, girls: 36%), shared environmental (boys: 28%, girls: 45%), and non-shared environmental factors (boys: 38%, girls: 19%). At the age of 20 years, the role of genetic (boys: 47%, girls: 33%) and non-shared environmental factors (boys: 53%, girls: 67%) was more pronounced. It can be concluded from the results that individual differences in sleep duration were accounted for by genetic and non-shared environmental factors throughout adolescence, whereas shared environmental factors account for a substantial part of variation during early adolescence only.

scholarly journals Importance of Maternal Persistence in Young Children's Persistence

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masahiro Imafuku ◽  
Atsuko Saito ◽  
Kenchi Hosokawa ◽  
Kazuo Okanoya ◽  
Chihiro Hosoda
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Social Development ◽  
Parenting Style ◽  
Personality Trait ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Maternal Factors ◽  
Social Success ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors

Persistence of a distant goal is an important personality trait that determines academic and social success. Recent studies have shown that individual differences in persistence involve both genetic and environmental factors; however, these studies have not examined the role of maternal factors on a young children's persistence. The present study examined whether mothers' persistence is associated with persistence in children aged 3–6 years. In addition, the associations between mothers' persistence/parenting style and children's self-control/social development (prosocial behaviors and difficulties) were examined. Our results showed that maternal persistence is essential for the child's persistence. Children's self-control and social development were also associated with the mothers' persistence and parenting style. Our findings suggest that a young child's persistence may develop under the influence of a familiar adult (i.e., mother) and characterizes their social development, highlighting the importance of persistence in parenting.

scholarly journals Heritability of Cortisol Production and Metabolism Throughout Adolescence

2019 ◽  
Vol 105 (2) ◽  
pp. 443-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Britt J van Keulen ◽  
Conor V Dolan ◽  
Ruth Andrew ◽  
Brian R Walker ◽  
Hilleke E Hulshoff Pol ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Broad Sense ◽  
Broad Sense Heritability ◽  
Total Contribution ◽  
Cortisol Metabolism ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors

Abstract Context Inter-individual differences in cortisol production and metabolism emerge with age and may be explained by genetic factors. Objective To estimate the relative contributions of genetic and environmental factors to inter-individual differences in cortisol production and metabolism throughout adolescence. Design Prospective follow-up study of twins. Setting Nationwide register. Participants 218 mono- and dizygotic twins (N = 109 pairs) born between 1995 amd 1996, recruited from the Netherlands Twin Register. Cortisol metabolites were determined in 213, 169, and 160 urine samples at the ages of 9, 12, and 17, respectively. Main outcome measures The total contribution of genetic factors (broad-sense heritability) and shared and unshared environmental influences to inter-individual differences in cortisol production and activities of 5α-reductase, 5β-reductase, and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases and cytochrome P450 3A4. Results For cortisol production rate at the ages of 9, 12, and 17, broad-sense heritability was estimated as 42%, 30%, and 0%, respectively, and the remainder of the variance was explained by unshared environmental factors. For cortisol metabolism indices, the following heritability was observed: for the A-ring reductases (5α-and 5β-reductases), broad-sense heritability increased with age (to >50%), while for the other indices (renal 11β-HSD2, global 11β-HSD, and CYP3A4), the contribution of genetic factors was highest (68%, 18%, and 67%, respectively) at age 12. Conclusions The contribution of genetic factors to inter-individual differences in cortisol production decreased between 12 and 17y, indicative of a predominant role of individual circumstances. For cortisol metabolism, distinct patterns of genetic and environmental influences were observed, with heritability that either increased with age or peaked at age 12y.

The interplay of genotype and environment in the development of fear and anxiety

e-Neuroforum ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Sachser ◽  
K.-P. Lesch
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Candidate Gene ◽  
Early Development ◽  
Genetic Variants ◽  
External Influences ◽  
Postnatal Environment ◽  
Fear And Anxiety

AbstractIndividual differences in fear, anxiety, and the etiology of anxiety disorders develop dur­ing ontogeny. They are due to both genet­ic and environmental factors. With regard to the role of the environment, the organism is most susceptible to external influences dur­ing early development. Accordingly, stressors that impinge on the maternal organism dur­ing pregnancy evoke high levels of anxiety in the offspring later in life, as does an adverse early postnatal environment. However, anxi­ety-related circuits in the central nervous sys­tem retain their plasticity in adulthood, i.e., levels of anxiety can also be modified by ex­perience across the entire successive lifespan. Notably, the effects of external stressors on the individual’s level of anxiety are modulat­ed by genotype. Such genotype-by-environ­ment interactions are particularly well stud­ied in relation to genetic variants that modu­late the function of the serotonin transport­er. Thus, this review focuses on this candidate gene to elucidate the interplay of genotype and environment in the development of fear and anxiety.

scholarly journals An Unusual Case of “Conjugal” Polymyalgia Rheumatica after SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination

Rheumato ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-21
Author(s):  
Elena Vanni ◽  
Jacopo Ciaffi ◽  
Luana Mancarella ◽  
Francesco Ursini
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Polymyalgia Rheumatica ◽  
Temporal Correlation ◽  
Married Couples ◽  
Laboratory Findings ◽  
Immune Mediated ◽  
Asia Syndrome ◽  
Causative Effect ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors

The rare occurrence of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) in married couples has been reported in the literature. Susceptibility to PMR is contributed by genetic and environmental factors and cases of PMR developing after influenza vaccine have also been described, in a debated phenomenon known as ‘ASIA’ syndrome. We report the case of two cohabitating married patients developing PMR few weeks after the first dose of ChAdOx1-S SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Both patients presented with typical symptoms suggestive of PMR. Laboratory findings and ultrasound examination confirmed the diagnosis. Glucocorticoid therapy led to rapid improvment of symptoms. Anti-receptor-binding domain IgG titre was tested and, eight weeks after vaccination, both patients showed no antibody response. It has been suggested that vaccines might trigger autoimmune or inflammatory states in predisposed individuals and various hypotheses have been made regarding the pathogenesis of PMR. Although the causative effect of vaccines cannot be determined, the close temporal correlation observed in our case supports the potential role of environmental factors in triggering the onset of PMR. However, the literature indicates that post-COVID19 vaccination immune-mediated or inflammatory adverse events are extremely rare and vaccination should be encouraged since the benefit largely outweighs possible risks.

scholarly journals Eye Rubbing and Keratoconus: A Literature Review

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 118-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Hawkes ◽  
Mayank A Nanavaty
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Visual Loss ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Common Cause ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Developed World

ABSTRACT Keratoconus is a progressive corneal ectactic condition that can lead to visual loss. Despite being the most common cause for keratoplasty in the developed world the aetiology is unknown. It is thought to be multifactorial, with genetic and environmental factors implicated. The association of eye rubbing and pathogenesis of keratoconus has been well documented. In this review, we collate the existing literature and summarize the current knowledge of the role of eye rubbing in the pathogenesis of keratoconus. How to cite this article Hawkes E, Nanavaty MA. Eye Rubbing and Keratoconus: A Literature Review. Int J Kerat Ect Cor Dis 2014;3(3):118-121.

Dyslexia: A Very Short Introduction

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret J. Snowling
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Short Introduction ◽  
Learning To Read ◽  
Innovative Research ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Associated Risk Factors

Dyslexia: A Very Short Introduction provides an accessible overview of the innovative research surrounding dyslexia, beginning with its history, and drawing on the experiences of children and adults with dyslexia today. Considering the skills involved in learning to read, and looking at the role of genetic and environmental factors including the language of learning, this VSI discusses the causes of dyslexia and its associated risk factors. Discussing the various brain-scanning techniques that have been used to find out if the brains of people with dyslexia differ in structure or function from those of typical readers, it moves on to weigh up various strategies and interventions that can help people living with dyslexia today.

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