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Polygenic risk and the developmental progression to heavy, persistent smoking and nicotine dependence: evidence from a 4-decade longitudinal study.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Belsky, DW; Moffitt, TE; Baker, TB; Biddle, AK; Evans, JP; Harrington, H; Houts, R; Meier, M; Sugden, K; Williams, B; Poulton, R; Caspi, A
Published in: JAMA psychiatry
May 2013

Genome-wide hypothesis-free discovery methods have identified loci that are associated with heavy smoking in adulthood. Research is needed to understand developmental processes that link newly discovered genetic risks with adult heavy smoking.To test how genetic risks discovered in genome-wide association studies of adult smoking influence the developmental progression of smoking behavior from initiation through conversion to daily smoking, progression to heavy smoking, nicotine dependence, and struggles with cessation.A 38-year, prospective, longitudinal study of a representative birth cohort.The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study of New Zealand.The study included 1037 male and female participants.We assessed genetic risk with a multilocus genetic risk score. The genetic risk score was composed of single-nucleotide polymorphisms identified in 3 meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies of smoking quantity phenotypes.Smoking initiation, conversion to daily smoking, progression to heavy smoking, nicotine dependence (Fagerström Test of Nicotine Dependence), and cessation difficulties were evaluated at 8 assessments spanning the ages of 11 to 38 years.Genetic risk score was unrelated to smoking initiation. However, individuals at higher genetic risk were more likely to convert to daily smoking as teenagers, progressed more rapidly from smoking initiation to heavy smoking, persisted longer in smoking heavily, developed nicotine dependence more frequently, were more reliant on smoking to cope with stress, and were more likely to fail in their cessation attempts. Further analysis revealed that 2 adolescent developmental phenotypes-early conversion to daily smoking and rapid progression to heavy smoking-mediated associations between the genetic risk score and mature phenotypes of persistent heavy smoking, nicotine dependence, and cessation failure. The genetic risk score predicted smoking risk over and above family history.Initiatives that disrupt the developmental progression of smoking behavior among adolescents may mitigate genetic risks for developing adult smoking problems. Future genetic research may maximize discovery potential by focusing on smoking behavior soon after smoking initiation and by studying young smokers.

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Published In

JAMA psychiatry

DOI

EISSN

2168-6238

ISSN

2168-622X

Publication Date

May 2013

Volume

70

Issue

5

Start / End Page

534 / 542

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Tobacco Use Disorder
  • Time Factors
  • Smoking
  • Risk
  • New Zealand
  • Male
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Humans
  • Female
 

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APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Belsky, D. W., Moffitt, T. E., Baker, T. B., Biddle, A. K., Evans, J. P., Harrington, H., … Caspi, A. (2013). Polygenic risk and the developmental progression to heavy, persistent smoking and nicotine dependence: evidence from a 4-decade longitudinal study. JAMA Psychiatry, 70(5), 534–542. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.736
Belsky, Daniel W., Terrie E. Moffitt, Timothy B. Baker, Andrea K. Biddle, James P. Evans, HonaLee Harrington, Renate Houts, et al. “Polygenic risk and the developmental progression to heavy, persistent smoking and nicotine dependence: evidence from a 4-decade longitudinal study.JAMA Psychiatry 70, no. 5 (May 2013): 534–42. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.736.
Belsky DW, Moffitt TE, Baker TB, Biddle AK, Evans JP, Harrington H, et al. Polygenic risk and the developmental progression to heavy, persistent smoking and nicotine dependence: evidence from a 4-decade longitudinal study. JAMA psychiatry. 2013 May;70(5):534–42.
Belsky, Daniel W., et al. “Polygenic risk and the developmental progression to heavy, persistent smoking and nicotine dependence: evidence from a 4-decade longitudinal study.JAMA Psychiatry, vol. 70, no. 5, May 2013, pp. 534–42. Epmc, doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.736.
Belsky DW, Moffitt TE, Baker TB, Biddle AK, Evans JP, Harrington H, Houts R, Meier M, Sugden K, Williams B, Poulton R, Caspi A. Polygenic risk and the developmental progression to heavy, persistent smoking and nicotine dependence: evidence from a 4-decade longitudinal study. JAMA psychiatry. 2013 May;70(5):534–542.

Published In

JAMA psychiatry

DOI

EISSN

2168-6238

ISSN

2168-622X

Publication Date

May 2013

Volume

70

Issue

5

Start / End Page

534 / 542

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Tobacco Use Disorder
  • Time Factors
  • Smoking
  • Risk
  • New Zealand
  • Male
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Humans
  • Female