Cited by 271Genetic Associations and EpidemiologyCognitive Abilities and TestingGenetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals

GWAS meta-analysis reveals novel loci and genetic correlates for general cognitive function: a report from the COGENT consortium

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Trampush, J W, Yang, M L Z, Yu, J, Knowles, E, Davies, G, Liewald, D C, Starr, J M, Djurovic, S +58 more·2017·Molecular Psychiatry

Abstract

The complex nature of human cognition has resulted in cognitive genomics lagging behind many other fields in terms of gene discovery using genome-wide association study (GWAS) methods. In an attempt to overcome these barriers, the current study utilized GWAS meta-analysis to examine the association of common genetic variation (~8M single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) with minor allele frequency ⩾1%) to general cognitive function in a sample of 35 298 healthy individuals of European ancestry across 24 cohorts in the Cognitive Genomics Consortium (COGENT). In addition, we utilized individual SNP lookups and polygenic score analyses to identify genetic overlap with other relevant neurobehavioral phenotypes. Our primary GWAS meta-analysis identified two novel SNP loci (top SNPs: rs76114856 in the CENPO gene on chromosome 2 and rs6669072 near LOC105378853 on chromosome 1) associated with cognitive performance at the genome-wide significance level (P<5 × 10−8). Gene-based analysis identified an additional three Bonferroni-corrected significant loci at chromosomes 17q21.31, 17p13.1 and 1p13.3. Altogether, common variation across the genome resulted in a conservatively estimated SNP heritability of 21.5% (s.e.=0.01%) for general cognitive function. Integration with prior GWAS of cognitive performance and educational attainment yielded several additional significant loci. Finally, we found robust polygenic correlations between cognitive performance and educational attainment, several psychiatric disorders, birth length/weight and smoking behavior, as well as a novel genetic association to the personality trait of openness. These data provide new insight into the genetics of neurocognitive function with relevance to understanding the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric illness.

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  • Most of the inflation (λGC = 1.92) could be explained by polygenic signal.

    “indicated that most of the inflation (λ GC = 1.92) could be explained by polygenic signal 6”

    From Genome-wide association meta-analysis in 269,867 individuals identifies new genetic and functional links to intelligence (2018) · cites this paper as [6]

    In Results, under “GWAS of general cognitive function,” the paper says polygenicity accounted for most of the increase in the mean χ² statistic. But it reports λGC = 1.12, not 1.92. (LLM, conf=0.92)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Recent genome-wide meta-analyses have identified 24 genomic loci linked to variation in intelligence.

    “Recent genome-wide metaanalyses have identified 24 genomic loci linked to variation in intelligence 3-7”

    From Genome-wide association meta-analysis in 269,867 individuals identifies new genetic and functional links to intelligence (2018) · cites this paper as [6]

    The Results (GWAS of general cognitive function; page unavailable) report two genome-wide-significant loci, supporting the claim that a meta-analysis identified loci associated with cognitive performance. The Abstract reports that 24 is the number of cohorts studied, not the number of loci identified; it also reports three additional loci from gene-based analysis. This source therefore does not support the count of 24 genomic loci. (LLM, conf=0.90)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • In healthy individuals, studies that have focused on global abilities have found robust genomic correlates of global cognitive performance defined with both intelligence and neurocognitive tests.

    “in healthy individuals, studies that have focused on global abilities have found robust genomic correlates of global cognitive performance defined with both intelligence and neurocognitive tests. 68”

    From Domains of cognition and their assessment (2019) · cites this paper as [68]

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Wechsler D. Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI). Norwegian Manual Supplement. Pearson Assessment: Stockholm, 2007.

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Authors
Trampush, J. W., Yang, M. L. Z., Yu, J., Knowles, E., Davies, G., Liewald, D. C., Starr, J. M., Djurovic, S., Melle, I., Sundet, K., Christoforou, A., Reinvang, I., DeRosse, P., Lundervold, A. J., Steen, V. M., Espeseth, T., Räikkönen, K., Widen, E., Palotie, A., Eriksson, J. G., Giegling, I., Konte, B., Roussos, P., Giakoumaki, S., Burdick, K. E., Payton, A., Ollier, W., Horan, M., Chiba-Falek, O., Attix, D. K., Need, A. C., Cirulli, E. T., Voineskos, A. N., Stefanis, N. C., Avramopoulos, D., Hatzimanolis, A., Arking, D. E., Smyrnis, N., Bilder, R. M., Freimer, N. A., Cannon, T. D., London, E., Poldrack, R. A., Sabb, F. W., Congdon, E., Conley, E. D., Scult, M. A., Dickinson, D., Straub, R. E., Donohoe, G., Morris, D., Corvin, A., Gill, M., Hariri, A. R., Weinberger, D. R., Pendleton, N., Bitsios, P., Rujescu, D., Lahti, J., Le Hellard, S., Keller, M. C., Andreassen, O. A., Deary, I. J., Glahn, D. C., Malhotra, A. K., & Lencz, T.
Affiliations
  • Zucker Hillside Hospital (US)
  • Institute of Mental Health (SG)
  • Feinstein Institute for Medical Research (US)
  • Yale University (US)
  • University of Edinburgh (GB)
  • Alzheimer Scotland (GB)
  • Oslo University Hospital (NO)
  • Haukeland University Hospital (NO)
  • University of Oslo (NO)
  • University of Bergen (NO)
  • University of Helsinki (FI)
  • Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (DE)
  • New York/New Jersey VA Health Care Network (US)
  • University of Crete (GR)
  • Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (GB)
  • University of Manchester (GB)
  • Duke University (US)
  • Imperial College London (GB)
  • Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CA)
  • National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (GR)
  • Johns Hopkins University (US)
  • University of California, Los Angeles (US)
  • Stanford University (US)
  • University of Oregon (US)
  • 23andMe (United States) (US)
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
  • Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway (IE)
  • Trinity College Dublin (IE)
  • University of Colorado Boulder (US)
Corresponding author
Lencz, T
Venue
Molecular Psychiatry
Published
2017-01-17
Volume
22
Issue
3
Pages
336-345
ISSN
  • 1359-4184 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-5578
OpenAlex
W2575342665
Cited by
271
References
76
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 37 · 2019: 40 · 2018: 33 · 2017: 16
FWCI
22.87
Type
journal article
Language
en
Update notices
erratum (2017-09-12)
Open access
Locations
  • Molecular Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ARAN (University of Galway Research Repository) (Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Edinburgh Research Explorer (University of Edinburgh) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Arrow@dit (Dublin Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • Arrow@dit (Dublin Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion)
  • ARAN (University of Galway Research Repository) (Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • NORA - Norwegian Open Research Archives (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • University of Galway Research Repository (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Spiral (Imperial College London) (submittedVersion)
  • Trinity's Access to Research Output (TARA) (Trinity College Dublin) (submittedVersion)
  • STM:n Hallinnonalan avoin julkaisuarkisto (Julkari) (submittedVersion)
  • Research Repository UCD (University College Dublin) (cc-by-nc)
  • WOS
Funders
  • National Science Foundation
  • Ellison Medical Foundation (AG‐NS‐0441‐08)
  • Helsingin Yliopisto
  • Finska Läkaresällskapet
  • Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation
  • Folkhälsanin Tutkimussäätiö
  • University of Edinburgh (MR/K026992/1, LBC1936)
  • Science Foundation Ireland (12/IP/1359, 08/IN.1/B1916, 12/IP/1670)
  • Academy of Finland
  • Novo Nordisk
  • Helse Vest
  • Signe ja Ane Gyllenbergin Säätiö
  • Emil Aaltosen Säätiö
  • Samfundet Folkhälsan
  • Universitetet i Bergen
  • Norges Forskningsråd (154313/V50, 177458, 177458/V50)
  • Bergens Forskningsstiftelse
  • Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology (MR/K026992/1)
  • National Institutes of Health (n01hc085082-026, n01hc085081-021, 5u01da024417-02, n01hc085079-024, 1ul1rr033176-01, n01hc085083-027, n01hc085080-026, UL1TR000124, n01hc65226-6-0-0, LBC1936, n01hc085086-022, n01hc25195-41-0-1, n01hc55222-0-0-0, n02hl64278-6-0-0, n01hc075150-004, AG049789)
  • Directorate for Biological Sciences
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research (15431_3)
  • Medical Research Council (MR/K026992/1, LBC1936)
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/F022441/1, MR/K026992/1, BB/F019394/1, F019394/1, LBC1936)
  • National Institute on Aging (R01AG023629, R01AG049789)
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (N01-HC-85081, N01-HC-65226, N01HC-85083, N01‐HC25195, N01HC85082, N01HC‐75150, HHSN268201500001I, N01 HC85086, HHSN 268200800007C, N01HC85080, N02- HL-64278, N01 HC55222, HHSN268201200036C, U01HL080295, N01-HC85079)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (RC2MH089983, PL1MH083271, R01MH100141, R01MH092515, K23MH077807, R01MH085018, R01MH080912, MH080912, RC2MH089924, MH080173, K01MH085812, RL1MH083269, P50MH080173, MH085812, K01MH098126, MH077807, R01MH079800)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (U01-DA024417, RL1DA024853, R01DA033369)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (PL1NS062410)
  • National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (UL1DE019580)
  • National Center for Research Resources (UL1-RR-033176)
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals
Keywords
general intelligence, cognitive performance, genetic loci, single nucleotide polymorphisms, polygenic risk score, educational attainment, CENPO, SNP heritability, smoking behavior, openness to experience, personality traits, mental illness
MeSH terms
Adult, Alleles, Cognition, Female, Gene Frequency, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Genetic Variation, Neurocognitive Disorders, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Multifactorial Inheritance, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, White People, Genome-Wide Association Study, Genetic Loci, Genetic Association Studies

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