Elucidating the genetic basis of social interaction and isolation.
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Publication Date
2018-07-03Journal Title
Nat Commun
ISSN
2041-1723
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Volume
9
Issue
1
Pages
2457
Language
eng
Type
Article
Physical Medium
Electronic
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Day, F. R., Ong, K. K., & Perry, J. R. (2018). Elucidating the genetic basis of social interaction and isolation.. Nat Commun, 9 (1), 2457. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-04930-1
Abstract
The negative impacts of social isolation and loneliness on health are well documented. However, little is known about their possible biological determinants. In up to 452,302 UK Biobank study participants, we perform genome-wide association study analyses for loneliness and regular participation in social activities. We identify 15 genomic loci (P < 5 × 10-8) for loneliness, and demonstrate a likely causal association between adiposity and increased susceptibility to loneliness and depressive symptoms. Further loci were identified for regular attendance at a sports club or gym (N = 6 loci), pub or social club (N = 13) or religious group (N = 18). Across these traits there was strong enrichment for genes expressed in brain regions that control emotional expression and behaviour. We demonstrate aetiological mechanisms specific to each trait, in addition to identifying loci that are pleiotropic across multiple complex traits. Further study of these traits may identify novel modifiable risk factors associated with social withdrawal and isolation.
Keywords
Humans, Risk Factors, Depression, Loneliness, Interpersonal Relations, Genomics, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Genome, Human, Adult, Female, Male, Genome-Wide Association Study
Relationships
Related research output: https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.23511
Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12015/2)
Identifiers
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-04930-1
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/280441
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