title: Shorter adult stature increases the impact of risk factors for cognitive impairment: a comparison of two Nordic twin cohorts.
abstract: We analyzed the association between mean height and old age cognition in two Nordic twin cohorts with different childhood living conditions. The cognitive performance of 4720 twin individuals from Denmark (mean age 81.6 years, SD = 4.59) and Finland (mean age 74.4 years, SD = 5.26) was measured using validated cognitive screens. Taller height was associated with better cognitive performance in Finland (beta-estimates 0.18 SD/10cm, p value < .001, for men and 0.13 SD, p = .008, for women), but this association was not significant in Denmark (beta-estimates 0.0093 SD, p value = .16, for men and 0.0075 SD, p value = .016, for women) when adjusted for age and education/social class. Among Finnish participants higher variability of cognitive performance within shorter height quintiles was observed. Analysis using gene-environment interaction models showed that environmental factors exerted a greater impact on cognitive performance in shorter participants, whereas in taller participants' it was explained mainly by genetic factors. Our results suggest that shorter participants with childhood adversity are more vulnerable to environmental risk factors for cognitive impairment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland. venla.laitala@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Venla S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Laitala
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hjelmborg
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koskenvuo
authors.forename: Ismo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Räihä
authors.forename: Juha O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Rinne
authors.forename: Kaare
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Jaakko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaprio
authors.forename: Karri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Silventoinen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001827:Body Height / Q000235:genetics*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D003718:Denmark; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires