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Shorter Adult Stature Increases the Impact of Risk Factors for Cognitive Impairment: A Comparison of Two Nordic Twin Cohorts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

Venla S. Laitala ,
Jacob Hjelmborg ,
Markku Koskenvuo ,
Ismo Räihä ,
Juha O. Rinne ,
Kaare Christensen ,
Jaakko Kaprio  and
Karri Silventoinen
Venla S. Laitala*
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland
Jacob Hjelmborg
Affiliation:
The Danish Twin Registry and Danish Aging Research Center, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
Markku Koskenvuo
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland
Ismo Räihä
Affiliation:
Department of Family Medicine, University of Turku, Finland Department of Family Medicine, University Hospital of Turku, Finland
Juha O. Rinne
Affiliation:
Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, Finland
Kaare Christensen
Affiliation:
The Danish Twin Registry and Danish Aging Research Center, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology and Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
Jaakko Kaprio
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland Institute for Molecular Medicine, Helsinki, Finland
Karri Silventoinen
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland Demographic Research Unit, Department of Social Research, University of Helsinki, Finland
*
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE: Venla Laitala, Department of Public Health, P.O. Box 41 Mannerheimintie 172, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland. E-mail: venla.laitala@helsinki.fi

Abstract

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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 (β-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 (β-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.

Keywords

twinsgeneticsheightcognitiondementiarisk factor
Type
Articles
Information
Twin Research and Human Genetics , Volume 14 , Issue 6 , December 2011 , pp. 544 - 552
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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