Polygenic Risks for Mood Disorders and Economic Well-being: Study of Finnish Cohorts.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Genetics
• Social Sciences
• Health Economics

Background:

• Polygenic scores (PGS) offer population-level genetic liability measures for mood disorders.
• Investigated the predictive power of PGS for depression (DPGS), bipolar disorder (BDPGS), and overall mood disorders (MDPGS) on economic outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine how genetic predispositions for mood disorders influence educational attainment, employment, occupation, income, and economic satisfaction.
• To understand the mediating role of education in the relationship between genetic liability and economic outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized genetic and socio-economic registry data from six Finnish cohorts (1992-2017, N=20,121).
• Employed multiple regression models to analyze associations between PGS and various economic indicators.
• Included participants aged 25-64, representative of diverse regions.

Main Results:

• All PGS negatively associated with employment probability; education mediated other economic outcome associations.
• BDPGS linked to higher education and knowledge work (esp. females), but not income/satisfaction.
• DPGS negatively associated with education, knowledge work, income, and economic satisfaction.
• MDPGS showed no educational association but negative links to income/satisfaction; DPGS/MDPGS reduced self-employment likelihood in males.

Conclusions:

• Genetic predispositions for depression and bipolar disorder have distinct, education-mediated economic impacts.
• Environmental factors like education can mitigate genetic risks, fostering economic resilience.
• Specific disorder PGS provide clearer insights into genetic underpinnings of economic disparities than generalized scores.