title: Heritability of cognitive traits among siblings with a parental history of Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: Cognitive decline is one of the hallmark features of Alzheimer's disease, but many studies struggle to find strong associations between cognitive function and genetic variants. In order to identify which aspects of cognition are more likely to have a strong genetic component, we assessed the heritability of various cognitive functions related to Alzheimer's disease in 303 initially asymptomatic middle-aged adult siblings with a parental history of Alzheimer's disease from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention. Participants underwent extensive cognitive testing, and six cognitive factors were identified via factor analysis. Working Memory and Visual Learning & Memory had the highest heritability (52% and 41%, respectively). Inclusion of APOE allele counts did not notably change heritability estimates, indicating that there are likely additional genetic variants contributing to cognition. These findings suggest that future genetic studies should focus on the cognitive domains of Working Memory and Visual Learning & Memory.
authors: Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
authors: Burcu F
authors: BF
authors: Darst
authors: Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
authors: Rebecca L
authors: RL
authors: Koscik
authors: Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
authors: Bruce P
authors: BP
authors: Hermann
authors: Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
authors: Asenath
authors: A
authors: La Rue
authors: Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
authors: Mark A
authors: MA
authors: Sager
authors: Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA Alzheimer's Diseases Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Wm. S. Middleton Memorial VA Hospital, Madison, WI, USA.
authors: Sterling C
authors: SC
authors: Johnson
authors: Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
authors: Corinne D
authors: CD
authors: Engelman
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D003071:Cognition; D056344:Executive Function; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010290:Parents; D035781:Siblings; D014796:Visual Perception
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E
keywords: APOE; Alzheimer's disease; WRAP; cognitive function; genetics; heritability
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