Video Experimental Relacionado

Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Pulse Wave Velocity Testing in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging

Pulse Wave Velocity Testing in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging

Published on: February 7, 2014

Estudio de Asociación del Genoma Completo de la Frecuencia de Participación Musical Activa en el Estudio Longitudinal

Tara Henechowicz, Brooke Wolford, Rachana Nitin

Research square

|February 6, 2026

Abstract:

Active music engagement (AME), i.e., playing a musical instrument or singing, is moderately heritable and may support resilience to age-related functional decline. To understand AME's genetic architecture, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (n = 23,782 with genetically inferred European ancestry). SNP-based heritability was estimated at 10%, revealing 21 independent loci at suggestive significance ( p < 5×10⁻⁵). Post-GWAS analyses showed enrichment in regulatory regions of adult brain cells and genetic correlations with musical rhythm ability, language, and cognition. Secondary genetic correlation analyses (bivariate-GREML) linked AME to enhanced cognition, motor function, social engagement, and resilience to psychological distress, but also increased mood disorder risk. Lastly, bi-directional Mendelian randomization indicated that individuals who have greater genetic propensity for musical rhythm abilities are more likely to have more frequent musical instrument or singing engagement. Overall, these findings suggest that the polygenic architecture of AME is enriched for neurobiological function, specifically promoter of astrocyte function, and shares genetic variation with healthy aging.

Palabras clave:

envejecimiento saludable participación musical activa genética cognición neurociencia estudio de asociación del genoma completo

Más Videos Relacionados

A Pathway Association Study Tool for GWAS Analyses of Metabolic Pathway Information

A Pathway Association Study Tool for GWAS Analyses of Metabolic Pathway Information

Published on: July 1, 2020

Large-Scale Multi-Omics Genome-Wide Association Studies Mo-GWAS: Guidelines for Sample Preparation and Normalization

Large-Scale Multi-Omics Genome-Wide Association Studies Mo-GWAS: Guidelines for Sample Preparation and Normalization

Published on: July 27, 2021

Videos de Conceptos Relacionados

Longitudinal Studies

Longitudinal Studies

Longitudinal studies are also widely used in other medical and social science fields. For instance, in cardiovascular research, they can monitor patients' health over decades to identify risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol or smoking, and evaluate the long-term effectiveness of preventive measures. Similarly, in mental health studies, researchers might follow individuals from adolescence into adulthood to understand the development and progression of conditions like...

Longitudinal Research

Longitudinal Research

Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...

Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS

Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS

Genome-wide association studies or GWAS are used to identify whether common SNPs are associated with certain diseases. Suppose specific SNPs are more frequently observed in individuals with a particular disease than those without the disease. In that case, those SNPs are said to be associated with the disease. Chi-square analysis is performed to check the probability of the allele likely to be associated with the disease.
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...

Frequency-dependent Selection

Frequency-dependent Selection

When the fitness of a trait is influenced by how common it is (i.e., its frequency) relative to different traits within a population, this is referred to as frequency-dependent selection. Frequency-dependent selection may occur between species or within a single species. This type of selection can either be positive—with more common phenotypes having higher fitness—or negative, with rarer phenotypes conferring increased fitness.

Aging

Aging

Aging is a complex biological phenomenon influenced by various processes that affect cellular and systemic functions. Several prominent theories attempt to explain its mechanisms, highlighting cellular limitations, oxidative damage, and hormonal changes as central factors in aging.
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...

The Effect of Aging on Tissues

The Effect of Aging on Tissues

Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic, and thins out, forming wrinkles. The skin of the face begins to appear looser due to a decrease in the levels of elastic and collagen fibers in the connective tissue. Additionally, melanin production in the hair follicle decreases with age, resulting in gray hair. Moreover, the senses of sight and hearing decline, so glasses and hearing aids may...