Education, intelligence, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A Mendelian randomization study
Linjing Zhang1, Lu Tang1, Kailin Xia1
1Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology
|August 19, 2020
Summary
Higher educational attainment genetically lowers the risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This study found that increased years of education and higher math class achievement are linked to reduced ALS risk.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease.
- The relationship between educational attainment, cognitive factors, and ALS risk is not fully understood.
- Genetic predispositions may influence these complex associations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal links between educational attainment, cognitive traits, and ALS.
- To determine if genetic factors influence the risk of developing ALS based on education and cognitive abilities.
Main Methods:
- Utilized summary statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS).
- Employed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) design.
- Analyzed data for educational attainment, math ability, cognitive performance, intelligence, and ALS.
Main Results:
- Higher educational attainment and taking harder math classes showed a significant association with a lower risk of ALS.
- Each additional year of education was linked to a 21% reduced ALS risk.
- Each standard deviation increase in highest math class taken was associated with a 19% lower ALS risk.
- No significant association was found between genetically predicted math ability, cognitive performance, or intelligence and reduced ALS risk.
Conclusions:
- Provides genetic evidence supporting a causal relationship between higher educational attainment and decreased ALS risk.
- Genes associated with educational phenotypes are involved in neuronal communication.
- Higher cognitive reserve may offer some protection against neurodegenerative processes, including those in ALS.
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