Substantial genetic overlap between neurocognition and schizophrenia: genetic modeling in twin samples

Abstract

Results from the first study to use twin modelling to quantify the genetic overlap between schizophrenia and neuropsychological function will be presented (recently published [1]). In the largest UK study of twins with schizophrenia two hundred sixty seven twins were invited to complete a comprehensive series of intelligence and memory tests. Both identical and non-identical twins took part, in some pairs both twins were affected by the illness and in others only one twin. Sophisticated genetic modelling statistical analyses were then used to determine to what extent the intelligence deficits were related to the genetic risk for the illness. The study reported a significant correlation between intelligence and schizophrenia with 92% of the covariance between the two accounted for by shared genetic variance. Genetic influences also explained most of the covariance between working memory and schizophrenia. Environmental effects, though separately linked to neurocognition and schizophrenia did not in general contribute to their correlation. The implication of the study is that Intelligence and working memory may be the key to identifying the genes for schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Annals of General Psychiatry is the property of BioMed Central and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)