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Mendelian randomisation analysis of the effect of educational attainment and cognitive ability on smoking behaviour

Author

Listed:
  • Eleanor Sanderson

    (MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol
    University of Bristol)

  • George Davey Smith

    (MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol
    University of Bristol)

  • Jack Bowden

    (MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol
    University of Bristol)

  • Marcus R. Munafò

    (MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol
    University of Bristol)

Abstract

Recent analyses have shown educational attainment to be associated with a number of health outcomes. This association may, in part, be due to an effect of educational attainment on smoking behaviour. In this study, we apply a multivariable Mendelian randomisation design to determine whether the effect of educational attainment on smoking behaviour is due to educational attainment or general cognitive ability. We use individual data from the UK Biobank study (N = 120,050) and summary data from large GWA studies of educational attainment, cognitive ability and smoking behaviour. Our results show that more years of education are associated with a reduced likelihood of smoking that is not due to an effect of general cognitive ability on smoking behaviour. Given the considerable physical harms associated with smoking, the effect of educational attainment on smoking is likely to contribute to the health inequalities associated with differences in educational attainment.

Suggested Citation

  • Eleanor Sanderson & George Davey Smith & Jack Bowden & Marcus R. Munafò, 2019. "Mendelian randomisation analysis of the effect of educational attainment and cognitive ability on smoking behaviour," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-10679-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10679-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Liza Darrous & Ninon Mounier & Zoltán Kutalik, 2021. "Simultaneous estimation of bi-directional causal effects and heritable confounding from GWAS summary statistics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Viinikainen, Jutta & Bryson, Alex & Böckerman, Petri & Kari, Jaana T. & Lehtimäki, Terho & Raitakari, Olli & Viikari, Jorma & Pehkonen, Jaakko, 2022. "Does better education mitigate risky health behavior? A mendelian randomization study," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 46(C).
    3. Schmengler, Heiko & Oldehinkel, Albertine J. & Vollebergh, Wilma A.M. & Pasman, Joëlle A. & Hartman, Catharina A. & Stevens, Gonneke W.J.M. & Nolte, Ilja M. & Peeters, Margot, 2023. "Disentangling the interplay between genes, cognitive skills, and educational level in adolescent and young adult smoking – The TRAILS study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 336(C).

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