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Polygenic Risk Scores and Physical Activity.
Urho M Kujala1, Teemu Palviainen2, Paula Pesonen3
1Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, FINLAND.
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
|February 13, 2020
Summary
Polygenic risk scores (PRS) explain a small but significant portion of physical activity (PA) variation. Higher PRS scores are linked to increased PA levels in Finnish cohorts.
Area of Science:
- Genetics and Genomics
- Human Physiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Polygenic risk scores (PRS) are established predictors for chronic diseases.
- Their application in understanding physical activity (PA) is less explored.
- PA is a complex trait influenced by multiple genetic and environmental factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To construct and evaluate PRS for physical activity (PA).
- To determine the proportion of variation in PA explained by PRS in independent population samples.
- To investigate the association between PRS and PA levels.
Main Methods:
- PRS were calculated for self-reported and objectively measured PA using UK Biobank GWAS summary statistics.
- PA variation was analyzed in the Finnish Twin Cohorts (FTC) and Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (NFBC1966).
- Objective PA was measured using accelerometers (hip-worn or wrist-worn).
Main Results:
- PRS explained 0.07% to 1.44% of the variation in PA (self-reported and measured).
- Individuals in the highest PRS deciles showed significantly higher PA volumes (11%-28%) compared to the lowest deciles.
- All associations were statistically significant (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- PRS account for a statistically significant, yet small, proportion of PA variation in Finnish cohorts.
- Future research could enhance PRS predictive power by including less common variants and standardized PA assessment methods.
- PA is a multifactorial trait, and genetic predisposition plays a role, but environmental and behavioral factors are also crucial.
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