Candidate gene association study of bmi-related loci, weight, and adiposity in old age

Abstract

Most genome-wide association studies are confined to middle-Aged populations. It is unclear whether associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and obesity persist in old age. We aimed to relate 10 body mass index (BMI)-Associated SNPs to weight, BMI, % fat, visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue in Health ABC and AGES-Reykjavik comprising 4,846 individuals of European Ancestry, and 1,139 African Americans over age 65. SNPs were scaled using effect estimates from candidate SNPs. In Health ABC, a SNP near GNPDA2 was modestly associated with weight and SAT area (p =. 008, p =. 001). Risk score (sum of scaled SNPs) was associated with weight, BMI, and SAT area (p