Are Twins and Singletons Comparable? A Study of Disease-related and Lifestyle Characteristics in Adult Women
Open accessAbstract
The classic twin study is sometimes described as "the perfect natural experiment" for the investigation of the aetiology of complex disease, but assumptions of the twin design need to be empirically tested if their results are to be considered unbiased and representative of singleton populations. In this study comparisons of disease and prevalence of lifestyle characteristics have been made between twin participants in the St Thomas' Hospital UK adult twin registry, the largest twin volunteer register in the UK for the study of diseases of ageing, and a parallel population-based study of singleton women. The only differences found were for weight, where monozygotic (MZ) twins were lighter and had a smaller variance than dizygotic (DZ) twins and singletons. For the other variables studied, volunteer twins were not found to differ from age-matched singleton women in distribution or prevalence of: bone mineral density, osteoarthritis, blood pressure, hypertensive drug use, height, history of hysterectomy and ovariectomy, menopausal status and current alcohol and overall tobacco consumption. We conclude that the results of twin studies can be generalised to singleton populations for these measures and disease outcomes.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Twins have been shown to be representative of the general population for studies of personality and somatic health.
“For the study of both personality and somatic health, twins have been shown to be representative for the general population [31, 32]”
From Personality disorders are important risk factors for disability pensioning (2014) · cites this paper as [31]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Fetal origins of coronary heart disease
Barker, D. J. P. (1995) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.311.6998.171 · Cited by 3,570 · see citing works
Fetal nutrition and cardiovascular disease in adult life
Barker, D. J. P., Godfrey, K. M., Gluckman, P. D., Harding, J. E., Owens, J. A., & Robinson, J. S. (1993) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/0140-6736(93)91224-a · Cited by 2,753 · see citing works
Fetal and infant origins of adult disease
Barker, D. J. P. (2001) · Monatsschrift Kinderheilkunde · doi:10.1007/s001120170002 · Cited by 1,042 · see citing works
Fetal origins of adult disease---the hypothesis revisited
Lucas, A., Fewtrell, M. S., & Cole, T. J. (1999) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.319.7204.245 · Cited by 798 · see citing works
Genetic influences on osteoarthritis in women: a twin study
Spector, T. D., Cicuttini, F., Baker, J., Loughlin, J. A., & Hart, D. J. (1996) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.312.7036.940 · Cited by 690 · see citing works
Self-citationA twin-pronged attack on complex traits
Martin, N., Boomsma, D., & Machin, G. (1997) · Nature Genetics · doi:10.1038/ng1297-387 · Cited by 685 · see citing works
Sham, P. C. (1997) · The HKU Scholars Hub (University of Hong Kong) · Cited by 555 · see citing works
A test of the equal-environment assumption in twin studies of psychiatric illness
Kendler, K., Neale, M., Kessler, R., Heath, A., & Eaves, L. (1993) · Behavior Genetics · doi:10.1007/bf01067551 · Cited by 420 · see citing works
Genetic Influences on Muscle Strength, Lean Body Mass, and Bone Mineral Density: A Twin Study
Arden, N., & Spector, T. D. (1997) · Journal of Bone and Mineral Research · doi:10.1359/jbmr.1997.12.12.2076 · Cited by 414 · see citing works
Self-citationSnieder, H., MacGregor, A. J., & Spector, T. D. (1998) · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · doi:10.1210/jcem.83.6.4890 · Cited by 359 · see citing works
Self-citationRole of the prenatal environment in the development of obesity
Whitaker, R. C., & Dietz, W. H. (1998) · The Journal of Pediatrics · doi:10.1016/s0022-3476(98)70302-6 · Cited by 357 · see citing works
Mortality among twins after age 6: fetal origins hypothesis versus twin method
Christensen, K., Vaupel, J. W., Holm, N. V., & Yashin, A. I. (1995) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.310.6977.432 · Cited by 277 · see citing works
Twin studies in medical research: can they tell us whether diseases are genetically determined?
Phillips, D. I. W. (1993) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/0140-6736(93)91086-2 · Cited by 241 · see citing works
Volunteer bias in twin research: The rule of two‐thirds
Lykken, D. T., Tellegen, A., & DeRubeis, R. J. (1978) · Social Biology · doi:10.1080/19485565.1978.9988312 · Cited by 219 · see citing works
Recruitment bias in twin research: The rule of two-thirds reconsidered
Lykken, D. T., McGue, M. K., & Tellegen, A. (1987) · Behavior Genetics · doi:10.1007/bf01068136 · Cited by 185 · see citing works
Radiographic assessment of osteoarthritis in population studies: whither kellgren and lawrence?
Spector, T. D., & Cooper, C. C. (1993) · Osteoarthritis and Cartilage · doi:10.1016/s1063-4584(05)80325-5 · Cited by 177 · see citing works
Self-citationMacGregor, A. J., Snieder, H., Schork, N. J., & Spector, T. D. (2000) · Trends in Genetics · doi:10.1016/s0168-9525(99)01946-0 · Cited by 154 · see citing works
Self-citationVågerö, D. H., & Leon, D. A. (1994) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(94)91112-6 · Cited by 152 · see citing works
Spector, T. D., McCloskey, E. V., Doyle, D., & Kanis, J. А. (1993) · Journal of Bone and Mineral Research · doi:10.1002/jbmr.5650080707 · Cited by 145 · see citing works
Self-citationAssociation between birth weight and adult blood pressure in twins: historical cohort study
Poulter, N. R., Chang, C. L., MacGregor, A. J., Snieder, H., & Spector, T. D. (1999) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.319.7221.1330 · Cited by 145 · see citing works
Self-citationTwin registers in Europe: an overview
Boomsma, D. I. (1998) · Twin Research · doi:10.1375/136905298320566465 · Cited by 141 · see citing works
Twins and maternal smoking: ordeals for the fetal origins hypothesis? A cohort study
Williams, S., & Poulton, R. (1999) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.318.7188.897 · Cited by 120 · see citing works
Hart, D. J., & Spector, T. D. (1993) · Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases · doi:10.1136/ard.52.2.93 · Cited by 112 · see citing works
Self-citationHeritability of Central Systolic Pressure Augmentation
Snieder, H., Hayward, C., Perks, U., Kelly, R. P., Kelly, P. J., & Spector, T. D. (2000) · Hypertension · doi:10.1161/01.hyp.35.2.574 · Cited by 111 · see citing works
Self-citationSelection Bias in Samples of Older Twins?
Simmons, S. F., Johansson, B. E. A., Zarit, S. H., Ljungquist, B., Plomin, R. J., & McClearn, G. E. (1997) · Journal of Aging and Health · doi:10.1177/089826439700900407 · Cited by 71 · see citing works
Ramos-Arroyo, M. A., Ulbright, T. M., Yu, P., & Christian, J. C. (1988) · Acta geneticae medicae et gemellologiae · doi:10.1017/s0001566000003834 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
MacGregor, A. J., Snieder, H., & Spector, T. D. (2000) · PubMed · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Self-citationConcordance of ischemic heart disease in the NHLBI twin study after 14–18 years of follow-up
Reed, T., Quiroga, J., Selby, J. V., Carmelli, D., Christian, J. C., Fabsitz, R. R., & Grime, C. E. (1991) · Journal of Clinical Epidemiology · doi:10.1016/0895-4356(91)90132-s · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Representativeness of a roster of volunteer North American twins with chronic disease
Mack, T. M., Deapen, D., & Hamilton, A. S. (2000) · Twin Research · doi:10.1375/136905200320565670 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Twin studies in medical research
Leslie, R. D., Pyke, D. A., Braun, M. M., Caporaso, N. E., Duffy, D. L., & Macdonald, A. (1993) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/0140-6736(93)90992-p · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Twins and the fetal origins hypothesis
Phillips, D. I. W., Osmond, C., Doyle, P., Leon, D. A., Maconochie, N., Morton, S., Stavola, B. L. D., Ross, C. N., Williams, S., & Poulton, R. (1999) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.319.7208.517 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Romanov, K., Koskenvuo, M., Kaprio, J. A., Sarna, S. J., & Heikkila, K. V. (1990) · Acta geneticae medicae et gemellologiae · doi:10.1017/s0001566000003664 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 13
- Burnett, S., Hart, D., Cooper, C., & Spector, T. (1994). A radi- ographic atlas of osteoarthritis. London: Springer-Verlag.
- Doyle, P., Leon, D., Maconochie, N., & de Stavola, B. (1999). Patterns of growth retardation differ in twins and singletons. British Medical Journal, 319, 517.
- Hart, D., Spector, T., Brown, P., Wilson, P., Doyle, D., & Silman, A. (1993). Clinical signs of early osteoarthritis: Reproducibility and relation to x-ray changes in 541 women in the general popula- tion. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 52, 93-96.
- Hodge, S. E. (1998). Ascertainment. In P. Armitage & T. Colton (Eds.), Encyclopedia of biostatistics (pp. 197-201). New York: Wiley.
- Holm, N. (1983). The use of twin studies to investigate causes of diseases with complex etiology, with a focus on cancer. Unpublishhed doc- toral dissertation, Odense University, Odense:.
- Kaprio, J., Verkasalo, P. K., & Koskenvuo, M. (2000). Sample selec- tion and outcome definition in twin studies: Experiences from the Finnish twin cohort study. In T. Spector, H. Snieder, & A. MacGregor (Eds.), Advances in twin and sib-pair analysis. London: Greenwich Medical Media Ltd.
- Kyvik, K. O. (2000). Generalisability and assumptions of twin studies. In T. Spector, H. Snieder, & A. MacGregor (Eds.), Advances in twin and sib-pair analysis. London: Greenwich Medical Media Ltd.
- MacGillivray, I., Campbell, D., Thompson, B., & et al. (Eds.; 1988). Twinning and twins. London: John Wiley.
- MacGregor, A. J., Snieder, H., Schork, N. J., & Spector, T. D. (2000). Twins. Novel uses to study complex traits and genetic diseases. Trends in Genetics, 16(3), 131-134.
- McMichael, A. (1976). Standardised mortality ratios and the 'healthy worker effect': Scratching beneath the surface. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 44(8), 797-805.
- Neale, M. (1995). Mx: Statistical modelling (Version 3rd edition). Richmond: Department of Psychiatry, Medical College of Virginia.
- Office For National Statistics (ONS). (1991). Census: Mid-year popu- lation figures (adjusted for under enumeration; Vol. 30 June 1991). Office For National Statistics, Department of Health Database.
- Strachan, D. P. (2000). Influence of design on the outcome of twin studies. In T. Spector, H. Snieder, & A. MacGregor (Eds.), Advances in twin and sib-pair analysis. London: Greenwich Medical Media Ltd.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Obesity, cigarette smoking, and telomere length in women
Valdes, A., Andrew, T., Gardner, J., Kimura, M., Oelsner, E., Cherkas, L., Aviv, A., & Spector, T. (2005) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(05)66630-5 · Cited by 1,363 · see citing works
Self-citationHuman metabolic individuality in biomedical and pharmaceutical research
CARDIoGRAM, Suhre, K., Shin, S.-Y., Petersen, A.-K., Mohney, R. P., Meredith, D., Wägele, B., Altmaier, E., Deloukas, P., Erdmann, J., et al. (2011) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature10354 · Cited by 1,017 · see citing works
Self-citationInterplay between the human gut microbiome and host metabolism
Visconti, A., Le Roy, C. I., Rosa, F., Rossi, N., Martin, T. C., Mohney, R. P., Li, W., de Rinaldis, E., Bell, J. T., Venter, J. C., et al. (2019) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/s41467-019-12476-z · Cited by 782 · see citing works
Self-citationMapping cis- and trans-regulatory effects across multiple tissues in twins
The Multiple Tissue Human Expression Resource (MuTHER) Consortium, Grundberg, E., Small, K. S., Hedman, Å. K., Nica, A. C., Buil, A., Keildson, S., Bell, J. T., Yang, T.-P., Meduri, E., et al. (2012) · Nature Genetics · doi:10.1038/ng.2394 · Cited by 729 · see citing works
Self-citationHeritability of Adult Body Height: A Comparative Study of Twin Cohorts in Eight Countries
Silventoinen, K., Sammalisto, S., Perola, M., Boomsma, D. I., Cornes, B. K., Davis, C., Dunkel, L., de Lange, M., Harris, J. R., Hjelmborg, J. V. B., et al. (2003) · Twin Research · doi:10.1375/136905203770326402 · Cited by 680 · see citing works
Self-citationBell, J., Tsai, P.-C., Yang, T.-P., Pidsley, R., Nisbet, J. P., Glass, D., Mangino, M., Zhai, G., Zhang, F., Valdes, A., et al. (2012) · PLoS Genetics · doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1002629 · Cited by 722 · see citing works
Self-citationA genome-wide perspective of genetic variation in human metabolism
Illig, T., Gieger, C., Zhai, G., Römisch-Margl, W., Wang-Sattler, R., Prehn, C., Altmaier, E., Kastenmüller, G., Kato, B. S., Mewes, H.-W., et al. (2010) · Nature Genetics · doi:10.1038/ng.507 · Cited by 653 · see citing works
Self-citationGenetic and environmental influences on human psychological differences
Bouchard, T. J., & McGue, M. (2003) · Journal of Neurobiology · doi:10.1002/neu.10160 · Cited by 870 · see citing works
The Association Between Physical Activity in Leisure Time and Leukocyte Telomere Length
Cherkas, L. F. (2008) · Archives of Internal Medicine · doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2007.39 · Cited by 568 · see citing works
Risk factors for osteoarthritis: genetics
Spector, T. D., & MacGregor, A. J. (2003) · Osteoarthritis and Cartilage · doi:10.1016/j.joca.2003.09.005 · Cited by 520 · see citing works
Self-citationThirty new loci for age at menarche identified by a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies
The GIANT Consortium, Elks, C. E., Perry, J. R. B., Sulem, P., Chasman, D. I., Franceschini, N., He, C., Lunetta, K. L., Visser, J. A., Byrne, E. M., et al. (2010) · Nature Genetics · doi:10.1038/ng.714 · Cited by 504 · see citing works
Wallace, C., Newhouse, S., Braund, P. S., Zhang, F., Tobin, M. D., Falchi, M., Ahmadi, K. R., Dobson, R., Marçano, A. C. B., Hajat, C., et al. (2008) · The American Journal of Human Genetics · doi:10.1016/j.ajhg.2007.11.001 · Cited by 437 · see citing works
Self-citationIs the Tendency to Engage in Entrepreneurship Genetic?
Nicolaou, N., Shane, S. A., Cherkas, L. F., Hunkin, J., & Spector, T. D. (2008) · Management Science · doi:10.1287/mnsc.1070.0761 · Cited by 418 · see citing works
Self-citationGenome-wide association and large-scale follow up identifies 16 new loci influencing lung function
Artigas, M. S., Loth, D. W., Wain, L. V., Gharib, S. A., Obeidat, M., Tang, W., Zhai, G., Zhao, J. H., Smith, A. V., Huffman, J. E., et al. (2011) · Nature Genetics · doi:10.1038/ng.941 · Cited by 400 · see citing works
Stolk, L., Perry, J. R. B., Chasman, D. I., He, C., Mangino, M., Sulem, P., Barbalić, M., Broer, L., Byrne, E. M., Ernst, F. D., et al. (2012) · Nature Genetics · doi:10.1038/ng.1051 · Cited by 367 · see citing works
Smith, N. L., Chen, M., Dehghan, A., Strachan, D. P., Basu, S., Soranzo, N., Hayward, C., Rudan, I., Sabater‐Lleal, M., Bis, J. C., et al. (2010) · Circulation · doi:10.1161/circulationaha.109.869156 · Cited by 369 · see citing works
Self-citationQuantitative variability of 342 plasma proteins in a human twin population
Liu, Y., Buil, A., Collins, B. C., Gillet, L. C., Blum, L. C., Cheng, L., Vitek, O., Mouritsen, J., Lachance, G., Spector, T. D., et al. (2015) · Molecular Systems Biology · doi:10.15252/msb.20145728 · Cited by 328 · see citing works
Self-citationTate, S. K., Depondt, C., Sisodiya, S. M., Cavalleri, G. L., Schorge, S., Soranzo, N., Thom, M., Sen, A., Shorvon, S. D., Sander, J. W. A. S., et al. (2005) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.0407346102 · Cited by 346 · see citing works
Human serum metabolic profiles are age dependent
Yu, Z., Zhai, G., Singmann, P., He, Y., Xu, T., Prehn, C., Römisch‐Margl, W., Lattka, E., Gieger, C., Soranzo, N., et al. (2012) · Aging Cell · doi:10.1111/j.1474-9726.2012.00865.x · Cited by 340 · see citing works
Self-citationSchousboe, K., Willemsen, G. A. H. M., Kyvik, K. O., Mortensen, J., Boomsma, D. I., Cornes, B. K., Davis, C. J., Fagnani, C., Hjelmborg, J., Kaprio, J. A., et al. (2003) · Twin Research · doi:10.1375/136905203770326411 · Cited by 326 · see citing works
The effects of social status on biological aging as measured by white‐blood‐cell telomere length
Cherkas, L. F., Aviv, A., Valdes, A. M., Hunkin, J., Gardner, J. P., Surdulescu, G. L., Kimura, M., & Spector, T. D. (2006) · Aging Cell · doi:10.1111/j.1474-9726.2006.00222.x · Cited by 306 · see citing works
Self-citationPrevalence and heritability of compulsive hoarding: a twin study
Iervolino, A. C., Perroud, N., Fullana, M. A., Guipponi, M., Cherkas, L., Collier, D. A., & Mataix-Cols, D. (2009) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2009.08121789 · Cited by 297 · see citing works
Zheng, H., Tobias, J. H., Duncan, E. L., Evans, D. M., Eriksson, J., Paternoster, L., Yerges-Armstrong, L. M., Lehtimäki, T. J., Bergström, U., Kähönen, M. A. P., et al. (2012) · PLoS Genetics · doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1002745 · Cited by 293 · see citing works
Self-citationMacGregor, A. J., Andrew, T., Sambrook, P. N., & Spector, T. D. (2004) · Arthritis Care & Research · doi:10.1002/art.20236 · Cited by 282 · see citing works
Self-citationGenetic influences in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: a twin study
Mohammed, I., Cherkas, L. F., Riley, S. A., Spector, T. D., & Trudgill, N. J. (2003) · Gut · doi:10.1136/gut.52.8.1085 · Cited by 271 · see citing works
Self-citationOffspring's Leukocyte Telomere Length, Paternal Age, and Telomere Elongation in Sperm
Kimura, M., Cherkas, L. F., Kato, B. S., Demissie, S., Hjelmborg, J., Brimacombe, M. B., Cupples, L. A., Hunkin, J., Gardner, J. P., Lu, X., et al. (2005) · PLoS Genetics · doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.0040037 · Cited by 270 · see citing works
Self-citationJennings, A., Welch, A. A., Fairweather-Tait, S. J., Kay, C. D., Minihane, A. M., Chowienczyk, P., Jiang, B., Cecelja, M., Spector, T. D., MacGregor, A. J., et al. (2012) · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.3945/ajcn.112.042036 · Cited by 266 · see citing works
Self-citationThe UK Adult Twin Registry (TwinsUK Resource)
Moayyeri, A., Hammond, C. J., Hart, D. J., & Spector, T. D. (2012) · Twin Research and Human Genetics · doi:10.1017/thg.2012.89 · Cited by 251 · see citing works
Self-citationAndrew, T., Aviv, A., Falchi, M., Surdulescu, G. L., Gardner, J. P., Lu, X., Kimura, M., Kato, B. S., Valdes, A. M., & Spector, T. D. (2006) · The American Journal of Human Genetics · doi:10.1086/500052 · Cited by 252 · see citing works
Self-citationCohort Profile: TwinsUK and Healthy Ageing Twin Study
Moayyeri, A., Hammond, C. J., Valdes, A. M., & Spector, T. D. (2012) · International Journal of Epidemiology · doi:10.1093/ije/dyr207 · Cited by 239 · see citing works
Self-citationPotentially modifiable risk factors for dementia in identical twins
Gatz, M., Mortimer, J. A., Fratiglioni, L., Johansson, B., Berg, S., Reynolds, C. A., & Pedersen, N. L. (2006) · Alzheimer's & Dementia · doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2006.01.002 · Cited by 239 · see citing works
Genetic influence on early age-related maculopathy
Hammond, C. J., Webster, A. R., Snieder, H., Bird, A. C., Gilbert, C. E., & Spector, T. D. (2002) · Ophthalmology · doi:10.1016/s0161-6420(01)01049-1 · Cited by 237 · see citing works
Self-citationHigher serum vitamin D concentrations are associated with longer leukocyte telomere length in women
Richards, J. B., Valdes, A. M., Gardner, J. P., Paximadas, D., Kimura, M., Nessa, A., Lu, X., Surdulescu, G. L., Swaminathan, R., Spector, T. D., et al. (2007) · The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/86.5.1420 · Cited by 237 · see citing works
Self-citationThe UK Adult Twin Registry (TwinsUK)
Spector, T. D., & Williams, F. M. K. (2006) · Twin Research and Human Genetics · doi:10.1375/twin.9.6.899 · Cited by 236 · see citing works
Self-citationPrevalence and risk factors of dry eye disease in a British female cohort
Vehof, J., Kozareva, D., Hysi, P. G., & Hammond, C. J. (2014) · British Journal of Ophthalmology · doi:10.1136/bjophthalmol-2014-305201 · Cited by 236 · see citing works
Jennings, A., Welch, A. A., Spector, T. D., MacGregor, A. J., & Cassidy, A. (2013) · Journal of Nutrition · doi:10.3945/jn.113.184358 · Cited by 220 · see citing works
Self-citationBataille, V. A., Snieder, H., MacGregor, A. J., Sasieni, P. D., & Spector, T. D. (2002) · Journal of Investigative Dermatology · doi:10.1046/j.1523-1747.2002.19621.x · Cited by 220 · see citing works
Self-citationSerum Adiponectin and Bone Mineral Density in Women
Richards, J. B., Valdes, A. M., Burling, K., Perks, U., & Spector, T. D. (2007) · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · doi:10.1210/jc.2006-2097 · Cited by 214 · see citing works
Self-citationShane, S. A., & Nicolaou, N. (2014) · Journal of Business Venturing · doi:10.1016/j.jbusvent.2014.04.001 · Cited by 214 · see citing works
Monzani, B., Rijsdijk, F., Harris, J., & Mataix-Cols, D. (2014) · JAMA Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.3524 · Cited by 208 · see citing works
Saha, R., Pettersson, H. J., Svedberg, P., Olovsson, M., Bergqvist, A., Marions, L., Tornvall, P., & Kuja-Halkola, R. (2015) · Fertility and Sterility · doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.06.035 · Cited by 211 · see citing works
Manek, N. J., Hart, D. J., Spector, T. D., & MacGregor, A. J. (2003) · Arthritis & Rheumatism · doi:10.1002/art.10884 · Cited by 209 · see citing works
Self-citationA metabolome-wide association study of kidney function and disease in the general population
Sekula, P., Goek, O.-N., Quaye, L., Barrios, C., Levey, A. S., Römisch-Margl, W., Menni, C., Yet, I., Gieger, C., Inker, L. A., et al. (2016) · Journal of the American Society of Nephrology · doi:10.1681/asn.2014111099 · Cited by 203 · see citing works
Self-citationHammond, C. J., Andrew, T., Mak, Y. T., & Spector, T. D. (2004) · The American Journal of Human Genetics · doi:10.1086/423148 · Cited by 202 · see citing works
Self-citationThe Personalities of Twins: Just Ordinary Folks
Johnson, W., Krueger, R. F., Bouchard, T. J., & McGue, M. (2002) · Twin Research · doi:10.1375/1369052022992 · Cited by 190 · see citing works
Heritability of responses to painful stimuli in women: a classical twin study
Norbury, T. A., MacGregor, A. J., Urwin, J., Spector, T. D., & McMahon, S. B. (2007) · Brain · doi:10.1093/brain/awm233 · Cited by 190 · see citing works
Self-citationAgeing, genes, environment and epigenetics: what twin studies tell us now, and in the future
Steves, C. J., Spector, T. D., & Jackson, S. H. (2012) · Age and Ageing · doi:10.1093/ageing/afs097 · Cited by 188 · see citing works
Self-citationBalduzzi, A., Valsecchi, M. G., UDERZO, C., Lorenzo, P. D., Klingebiel, T. E., Peters, C., Starý, J., Felice, M. S., Magyarosy, E., Conter, V., et al. (2005) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(05)66998-x · Cited by 186 · see citing works
Genetics, the Big Five, and the tendency to be self-employed.
Shane, S. A., Nicolaou, N., Cherkas, L. M., & Spector, T. D. (2010) · Journal of Applied Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0020294 · Cited by 186 · see citing works
Self-citationHeritability of Blood Pressure and Hemodynamics in African- and European-American Youth
Snieder, H., Harshfield, G. A., & Treiber, F. A. (2003) · Hypertension · doi:10.1161/01.hyp.0000072269.19820.0d · Cited by 180 · see citing works
Self-citationTwinsUK: The UK Adult Twin Registry Update
Verdi, S., Abbasian, G., Bowyer, R. C. E., Lachance, G., Yarand, D., Christofidou, P., Mangino, M., Menni, C., Bell, J. T., Falchi, M., et al. (2019) · Twin Research and Human Genetics · doi:10.1017/thg.2019.65 · Cited by 171 · see citing works
Self-citationA Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals Variants in ARL15 that Influence Adiponectin Levels
Richards, J. B., Waterworth, D. M., O’Rahilly, S., Hivert, M., Loos, R. J. F., Perry, J. R. B., Tanaka, T., Timpson, N. J., Semple, R. K., Soranzo, N., et al. (2009) · PLoS Genetics · doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1000768 · Cited by 167 · see citing works
Self-citationValdes, A. M., Richards, J. B., Gardner, J. P., Swaminathan, R., Kimura, M., Xiaobin, L., Aviv, A., & Spector, T. D. (2007) · Osteoporosis International · doi:10.1007/s00198-007-0357-5 · Cited by 164 · see citing works
Self-citationHancock, D. B., Artigas, M. S., Gharib, S. A., Henry, A. P., Manichaikul, A. W., Ramasamy, A., Loth, D. W., Imboden, M., Koch, B., McArdle, W. L., et al. (2012) · PLoS Genetics · doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1003098 · Cited by 166 · see citing works
Self-citationRecent and Lifelong Sexual Dysfunction in a Female UK Population Sample: Prevalence and Risk Factors
Burri, A., & Spector, T. (2011) · The Journal of Sexual Medicine · doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02341.x · Cited by 162 · see citing works
Self-citationThe genetic epidemiology of joint hypermobility: A population study of female twins
Hakim, A. J., Cherkas, L. F., Grahame, R., Spector, T. D., & MacGregor, A. J. (2004) · Arthritis & Rheumatism · doi:10.1002/art.20376 · Cited by 161 · see citing works
Self-citationInnate and adaptive immune traits are differentially affected by genetic and environmental factors
Mangino, M., Roederer, M., Beddall, M. H., Nestle, F. O., & Spector, T. D. (2017) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/ncomms13850 · Cited by 160 · see citing works
Self-citationMacGregor, A. J., Gallimore, J. R., Spector, T. D., & Pepys, M. B. (2004) · Clinical Chemistry · doi:10.1373/clinchem.2003.028258 · Cited by 158 · see citing works
Self-citationShared genetic factors underlie chronic pain syndromes
Vehof, J., Zavos, H. M. S., Lachance, G., Hammond, C. J., & Williams, F. M. K. (2014) · Pain · doi:10.1016/j.pain.2014.05.002 · Cited by 156 · see citing works
Lopes, M. C., Andrew, T., Carbonaro, F., Spector, T. D., & Hammond, C. J. (2009) · Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science · doi:10.1167/iovs.08-2385 · Cited by 153 · see citing works
Self-citationMedjeral‐Thomas, N., Lomax-Browne, H. J., Beckwith, H., Willicombe, M. K., Mclean, A. G., Brookes, P., Pusey, C. D., Falchi, M., Cook, H. T., & Pickering, M. C. (2017) · Kidney International · doi:10.1016/j.kint.2017.03.043 · Cited by 153 · see citing works
Schmorl's nodes: Common, highly heritable, and related to lumbar disc disease
Williams, F. M. K., Manek, N. J., Sambrook, P. N., Spector, T. D., & MacGregor, A. J. (2007) · Arthritis Care & Research · doi:10.1002/art.22789 · Cited by 150 · see citing works
Self-citationIschemic stroke is associated with the ABO locus: The EuroCLOT study
Williams, F. M. K., Carter, A. M., Hysi, P. G., Surdulescu, G. L., Hodgkiss, D., Soranzo, N., Traylor, M., Bevan, S., Dichgans, M., Rothwell, P. M., et al. (2012) · Annals of Neurology · doi:10.1002/ana.23838 · Cited by 148 · see citing works
Self-citationEpigenetic associations of type 2 diabetes and BMI in an Arab population
Al‐Muftah, W., Al-Shafai, M. N., Zaghlool, S. B., Visconti, A., Tsai, P.-C., Kumar, P., Spector, T. D., Bell, J. T., Falchi, M., & Suhre, K. (2016) · Clinical Epigenetics · doi:10.1186/s13148-016-0177-6 · Cited by 144 · see citing works
Self-citationvan Hecke, O., Hocking, L. J., Torrance, N., Campbell, A., Padmanabhan, S., Porteous, D. J., McIntosh, A. M., Burri, A. V., Tanaka, H., Williams, F. M. K., et al. (2017) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0170653 · Cited by 145 · see citing works
Central Corneal Thickness Is Highly Heritable: The Twin Eye Studies
Toh, T., Liew, S. H. M., MacKinnon, J. R., Hewitt, A. W., Poulsen, J. L., Spector, T. D., Gilbert, C. E., Craig, J. E., Hammond, C. J., & Mackey, D. A. (2005) · Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science · doi:10.1167/iovs.04-1497 · Cited by 144 · see citing works
Self-citationSabater‐Lleal, M., Huang, J., Chasman, D. I., Naitza, S., Dehghan, A., Johnson, A. D., Teumer, A., Reiner, A. P., Folkersen, L., Basu, S., et al. (2013) · Circulation · doi:10.1161/circulationaha.113.002251 · Cited by 141 · see citing works
Self-citationWitting, K., Santtila, P. O., Alanko, K., Harlaar, N., Jern, P., Johansson, A., von der Pahlen, B., Varjonen, M., Ålgars, M., & Sandnabba, N. K. (2008) · Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy · doi:10.1080/00926230701636163 · Cited by 139 · see citing works
kConFab Investigators, Amin, N., Byrne, E. M., Johnson, J., Chenevix‐Trench, G., Walter, S., Nolte, I. M., Vink, J. M., Rawal, R., Mangino, M., et al. (2011) · Molecular Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/mp.2011.101 · Cited by 139 · see citing works
Self-citationAndrew, T., Antioniades, L., Scurrah, K. J., MacGregor, A. J., & Spector, T. D. (2005) · Journal of Bone and Mineral Research · doi:10.1359/jbmr.041015 · Cited by 139 · see citing works
Self-citationMäättä, J. H., Wadge, S., MacGregor, A. J., Karppinen, J. I., & Williams, F. M. K. (2015) · Spine · doi:10.1097/brs.0000000000000937 · Cited by 137 · see citing works
Self-citationThe genetic contribution to carpal tunnel syndrome in women: A twin study
Hakim, A. J., Cherkas, L. F., Zayat, S. E., MacGregor, A. J., & Spector, T. D. (2002) · Arthritis Care & Research · doi:10.1002/art.10395 · Cited by 136 · see citing works
Self-citationWilson, S. G., Reed, P., Bansal, A. T., Chiano, M. N., Lindersson, M., Langdown, M., Prince, R. L., Thompson, D. B., Thompson, E., Bailey, M. E. S., et al. (2003) · The American Journal of Human Genetics · doi:10.1086/345819 · Cited by 134 · see citing works
Self-citationDesai, A. V., Cherkas, L. F., Spector, T. D., & Williams, A. J. (2004) · Twin Research · doi:10.1375/1369052042663841 · Cited by 133 · see citing works
Self-citationHeritability of serum TSH, free T4 and free T3 concentrations: a study of a large UK twin cohort
Panicker, V., Wilson, S. G., Spector, T. D., Brown, S. J., Falchi, M., Richards, J. B., Surdulescu, G. L., Lim, E. M., Fletcher, S. J., & Walsh, J. P. (2008) · Clinical Endocrinology · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2265.2007.03079.x · Cited by 128 · see citing works
Self-citationA Multivariate Twin Study of Obsessive-Compulsive Symptom Dimensions
Iervolino, A. C., Rijsdijk, F. V., Cherkas, L. F., Fullana, M. A., & Mataix‐Cols, D. (2011) · Archives of General Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.54 · Cited by 129 · see citing works
Genetic influences on variation in female orgasmic function: a twin study
Dunn, K. M., Cherkas, L. F., & Spector, T. D. (2005) · Biology Letters · doi:10.1098/rsbl.2005.0308 · Cited by 127 · see citing works
Self-citationSerum Metabolite Concentrations and Decreased GFR in the General Population
Goek, O.-N., Döring, A., Gieger, C., Heier, M., Koenig, W., Prehn, C., Römisch-Margl, W., Wang-Sattler, R., Illig, T., Suhre, K., et al. (2012) · American Journal of Kidney Diseases · doi:10.1053/j.ajkd.2012.01.014 · Cited by 121 · see citing works
Yaghootkar, H., Lamina, C., Scott, R. A., Dastani, Z., Hivert, M., Warren, L. L., Stančáková, A., Buxbaum, S. G., Lyytikäinen, L., Henneman, P., et al. (2013) · Diabetes · doi:10.2337/db13-0128 · Cited by 121 · see citing works
Self-citationGenetic contribution to renal function and electrolyte balance: a twin study
Hunter, D. J., de Lange, M., Snieder, H., GREGOR, A. J. M., Swaminathan, R., Thakker, R. V., & Spector, T. D. (2002) · Clinical Science · doi:10.1042/cs1030259 · Cited by 121 · see citing works
Self-citationArterial Stiffening Relates to Arterial Calcification But Not to Noncalcified Atheroma in Women
Cecelja, M., Jiang, B., Bevan, L., Frost, M. L., Spector, T. D., & Chowienczyk, P. (2011) · Journal of the American College of Cardiology · doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2010.09.079 · Cited by 119 · see citing works
Self-citationGenetic Influences in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Twin Study
Mohammed, I., Cherkas, L. F., Riley, S. A., Spector, T. D., & Trudgill, N. J. (2005) · The American Journal of Gastroenterology · doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2005.41700.x · Cited by 118 · see citing works
Self-citationLeukocyte telomere length is associated with cognitive performance in healthy women
Valdes, A. M., Deary, I. J., Gardner, J., Kimura, M., Lu, X., Spector, T. D., Aviv, A., & Cherkas, L. F. (2008) · Neurobiology of Aging · doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2008.07.012 · Cited by 118 · see citing works
Self-citationBrooker, R. J., Buss, K. A., Lemery‐Chalfant, K., Aksan, N. S., Davidson, R. J., & Goldsmith, H. H. (2013) · Developmental Science · doi:10.1111/desc.12058 · Cited by 119 · see citing works
Hunter, D. J. (2003) · British journal of rheumatology · doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keg373 · Cited by 117 · see citing works
Dietary Patterns and Heritability of Food Choice in a UK Female Twin Cohort
Teucher, B., Skinner, J. S., Skidmore, P. M. L., Cassidy, A., Fairweather‐Tait, S. J., Hooper, L., Roe, M. A., Foxall, R., Oyston, S. L., Cherkas, L. F., et al. (2007) · Twin Research and Human Genetics · doi:10.1375/twin.10.5.734 · Cited by 114 · see citing works
Self-citationValdes, A. M., Loughlin, J. A., Timms, K. M., van Meurs, J. B. J., Southam, L., Wilson, S. G., Doherty, S. A., Lories, R. J. U., Luyten, F. P., Gutin, A., et al. (2008) · The American Journal of Human Genetics · doi:10.1016/j.ajhg.2008.04.006 · Cited by 116 · see citing works
Self-citationAllum, F., Shao, X., Guénard, F., Simon, M.-M., Busche, S., Caron, M., Lambourne, J. J., Lessard, J., Tandre, K., Hedman, Å. K., et al. (2015) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/ncomms8211 · Cited by 114 · see citing works
Self-citationAssociation of birth weight with osteoporosis and osteoarthritis in adult twins
Antoniades, L. (2003) · British journal of rheumatology · doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keg227 · Cited by 113 · see citing works
Relationship Between Dry Eye Symptoms and Pain Sensitivity
Vehof, J., Kozareva, D., Hysi, P. G., Harris, J. M., Nessa, A., Williams, F. M. K., Bennett, D., McMahon, S. B., Fahy, S. J., Direk, K., et al. (2013) · JAMA Ophthalmology · doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2013.4399 · Cited by 111 · see citing works
Self-citationThe genetic influence on radiographic osteoarthritis is site specific at the hand, hip and knee
MacGregor, A. J., Li, Q., Spector, T. D., & Williams, F. M. K. (2008) · Lara D. Veeken · doi:10.1093/rheumatology/ken475 · Cited by 110 · see citing works
Self-citationStrachan, D. P., Wong, H. J., & Spector, T. D. (2001) · Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology · doi:10.1067/mai.2001.119408 · Cited by 110 · see citing works
Self-citationHabitual flavonoid intakes are positively associated with bone mineral density in women
Welch, A. A., MacGregor, A. J., Jennings, A., Fairweather-Tait, S., Spector, T. D., & Cassidy, A. (2012) · Journal of Bone and Mineral Research · doi:10.1002/jbmr.1649 · Cited by 109 · see citing works
Self-citationHarris, J. M., Cherkas, L. F., Kato, B. S., Heiman, J. R., & Spector, T. D. (2008) · The Journal of Sexual Medicine · doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2008.00800.x · Cited by 110 · see citing works
Self-citationVertebral Endplate Defect as Initiating Factor in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
Rade, M., Määttä, J. H., Freidin, M. B., Airaksinen, O., Karppinen, J. I., & Williams, F. M. K. (2017) · Spine · doi:10.1097/brs.0000000000002352 · Cited by 109 · see citing works
A Survey of UK Public Interest in Internet-Based Personal Genome Testing
Cherkas, L. F., Harris, J. M., Levinson, E., Spector, T. D., & Prainsack, B. (2010) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0013473 · Cited by 109 · see citing works
Self-citationJennings, A., MacGregor, A. J., Spector, T. D., & Cassidy, A. (2015) · Journal of Bone and Mineral Research · doi:10.1002/jbmr.2703 · Cited by 108 · see citing works
Self-citationThe Big Finger: the second to fourth digit ratio is a predictor of sporting ability in women
Paul, S., Kato, B. S., Hunkin, J., Vivekanandan, S., & Spector, T. D. (2006) · British Journal of Sports Medicine · doi:10.1136/bjsm.2006.027193 · Cited by 108 · see citing works
Self-citationWelch, A. A., Kelaiditi, E., Jennings, A., Steves, C. J., Spector, T. D., & MacGregor, A. (2016) · Journal of Bone and Mineral Research · doi:10.1002/jbmr.2692 · Cited by 100 · see citing works
Visconti, A., Duffy, D. L., Liu, F., Zhu, G., Wu, W., Chen, Y., Hysi, P. G., Zeng, C., Sanna, M., Iles, M. M., et al. (2018) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/s41467-018-04086-y · Cited by 103 · see citing works
Self-citation
- Authors
- Andrew, T., Hart, D. J., Snieder, H., de Lange, M., Spector, T. D., & MacGregor, A. J.
- Affiliations
- St Thomas' Hospital (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Andrew, Toby
- Venue
- Twin Research
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2001-12-01
- Volume
- 4
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 464-477
- ISSN
- 1369-0523 (ISSN-L)
- 0000-0000
- OpenAlex
- W2015612792
- Cited by
- 440
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 25 · 2016: 25 · 2015: 31 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 36 · 2012: 38
- FWCI
- 12.53
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Twin Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Wellcome Trust
- Chronic Disease Research Foundation
- British Heart Foundation
- Versus Arthritis (17489)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Assisted Reproductive Technology and Twin Pregnancy
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Keywords
- monozygotic twins, dizygotic twins, lifestyle characteristics, disease prevalence, body weight, bone mineral density, osteoarthritis, blood pressure, menopause, hysterectomy, ovariectomy, alcohol consumption, smoking, twin registry
- MeSH terms
- Alcohol Drinking, Antihypertensive Agents, Blood Pressure, Body Height, Female, Humans, Life Style, Menopause, Middle Aged, Morbidity, Osteoarthritis, Smoking, Social Class, Twins, Bone Density
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
