Cited by 72Circadian rhythm and melatoninGenetic Associations and EpidemiologySleep and related disorders

Genome-Wide Association Study of Circadian Rhythmicity in 71,500 UK Biobank Participants and Polygenic Association with Mood Instability

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Ferguson, Amy, Lyall, Laura M., Ward, Joey, Strawbridge, Rona J., Cullen, Breda, Graham, Nicholas, Niedzwiedz, Claire L., Johnston, Keira J.A. +10 more·2018·EBioMedicine

Published version of a preprint

Abstract

Abstract Background Circadian rhythms are fundamental to health and are particularly important for mental wellbeing. Disrupted rhythms of rest and activity are recognised as risk factors for major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. Methods We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of low relative amplitude (RA), an objective measure of circadian rhythmicity derived from the accelerometer data of 71 500 UK Biobank participants. Polygenic risk scores (PRS) for low RA were used to investigate potential associations with psychiatric phenotypes. Outcomes Two independent genetic loci were associated with low RA, within genomic regions for Neurofascin ( NFASC ) and Solute Carrier Family 25 Member 17 ( SLC25A17 ). A secondary GWAS of RA as a continuous measure identified a locus within Meis Homeobox 1 ( MEIS1 ). There were no significant genetic correlations between low RA and any of the psychiatric phenotypes assessed. However, PRS for low RA was significantly associated with mood instability across multiple PRS thresholds (at PRS threshold 0·05: OR=1·02, 95% CI=1·01-1·02, p=9·6×10 −5 ), and with major depressive disorder (at PRS threshold 0·1: OR=1·03, 95% CI=1·01-1·05, p=0·025) and neuroticism (at PRS threshold 0·5: Beta=0·02, 95% CI=0·007-0·04, p=0·021). Interpretation Overall, our findings contribute new knowledge on the complex genetic architecture of circadian rhythmicity and suggest a putative biological link between disrupted circadian function and mood disorder phenotypes, particularly mood instability, but also major depressive disorder and neuroticism.

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  • A comprehensive phenome-wide approach to disrupted rest-activity cycles from accelerometry in the UK Biobank has not yet been established.

    “Although a few disease-specific studies, limited to patients with mood disorders7,8, have measured the degree of disrupted rest-activity cycles from accelerometry in the UKBB, a comprehensive phenome-wide approach has not yet been established.”
  • A total of 92,325 participants passed quality control after exclusions based on failed calibration, insufficient data, or crossing over daylight savings time.

    “A total of 92,325 participants passed quality control after exclusions based on failed calibration (n = 2826), insufficient data (n = 4258) or crossing over daylight savings time (n = 4279), following prior experiments7,8,20.”
  • Quantum dots have also been used to model the mechanism by which anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies contribute to the neuromuscular disorder myasthenia gravis.

    “They have also been used to model the mechanism by which anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies contribute to the neuromuscular disorder myasthenia gravis 210 .”

    From Quantum effects in the brain: A review (2020) · cites this paper as [210]

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Authors
Ferguson, A., Lyall, L. M., Ward, J., Strawbridge, R. J., Cullen, B., Graham, N., Niedzwiedz, C. L., Johnston, K. J. A., MacKay, D., Biello, S. M., Pell, J. P., Cavanagh, J., McIntosh, A. M., Doherty, A., Bailey, M. E. S., Lyall, D. M., Wyse, C. A., & Smith, D. J.
Affiliations
  • University of Glasgow (GB)
  • Karolinska Institutet (SE)
  • University of Edinburgh (GB)
  • University of Oxford (GB)
  • Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (IE)
Corresponding author
Ferguson, Amy
Venue
EBioMedicine
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2018-09
Volume
35
Pages
279-287
ISSN
2352-3964 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2809445594
Cited by
70
References
89
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 2
FWCI
4.12
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • EBioMedicine (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ENLIGHTEN (Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling Islam) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Oxford University Research Archive (ORA) (University of Oxford) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Edinburgh Research Explorer (University of Edinburgh) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • British Heart Foundation
  • Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (173096)
  • Department of Health and Social Care
  • Pfizer
  • University of Glasgow (MR/K501335/1)
  • Janssen Biotech (MR/R024774/1)
  • Sackler Trust
  • Medical Research Council
  • Scottish Government
  • H. Lundbeck A/S
  • Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (173558)
  • NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre
  • UK Research and Innovation (MR/S003061/1)
  • GlaxoSmithKline foundation
  • Pfizer UK
  • Northwest Regional Development Agency
  • Wellcome Trust
  • BHF Centre of Research Excellence, Oxford
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
Keywords
circadian rhythmicity, rest-activity rhythm, relative amplitude, mood instability, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, polygenic risk score, neurofascin, MEIS1, neuroticism, genetic architecture, accelerometer-measured activity
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Mental Disorders, Circadian Rhythm, Humans, Middle Aged, Phenotype, Biological Specimen Banks, Mood Disorders, Multifactorial Inheritance, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Quantitative Trait Loci, Genome-Wide Association Study

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