Heritability of menopausal age in mothers and daughters.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the heritability of age at natural menopause from mother-daughter pairs.


METHODS
Two-generation families were selected to study heritability of menopausal age.


METHODS
Subjects were drawn from a population-based study.


METHODS
One hundred sixty-four mother-daughter pairs with a natural menopausal age.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
The heritability of age at natural menopause estimated by a random-effects model.


RESULTS
A heritability of 44% (95% confidence interval, 36%, 50%) was estimated.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms that heritable components largely determine the natural age at menopause. Reasons for the differences between heritability estimates based on sibling pairs and parent-child comparisons are discussed.
van Asselt
Kristel M
KM
Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Kok
Helen S
HS
Pearson
Peter L
PL
Dubas
Judith S
JS
Peeters
Petra H M
PH
Te Velde
Egbert R
ER
van Noord
Paulus A H
PA
D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000235:genetics*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009035:Mothers; D009679:Nuclear Family