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Genes Related to Education Predict Frailty Among Older Adults in the United States
[Genetic analysis of social-class mobility in five longitudinal studies]

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  • Brooke M Huibregtse
  • Breanne L Newell-Stamper
  • Benjamin W Domingue
  • Jason D Boardman
  • Anna Zajacova

Abstract

ObjectiveThis article expands on research that links education and frailty among older adults by considering the role of genes associated with education.MethodData come from a sample of 7,064 non-Hispanic, white adults participating in the 2004–2012 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. Frailty was measured with two indices: (a) The Frailty Index which corresponds to a deficit accumulation model; and (b) The Paulson–Lichtenberg Frailty Index which corresponds to the biological syndrome/phenotype model. Genes associated with education were quantified using an additive polygenic score. Associations between the polygenic score and frailty indices were tested using a series of multilevel models, controlling for multiple observations for participants across waves.ResultsResults showed a strong and negative association between genes for education and frailty symptoms in later life. This association exists above and beyond years of completed education and we demonstrate that this association becomes weaker as older adults approach their 80s.DiscussionThe results contribute to the education–health literature by highlighting new and important pathways through which education might be linked to successful aging.

Suggested Citation

  • Brooke M Huibregtse & Breanne L Newell-Stamper & Benjamin W Domingue & Jason D Boardman & Anna Zajacova, 2021. "Genes Related to Education Predict Frailty Among Older Adults in the United States [Genetic analysis of social-class mobility in five longitudinal studies]," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 76(1), pages 173-183.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:geronb:v:76:y:2021:i:1:p:173-183.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/geronb/gbz092
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    1. Daniel W. Belsky & Benjamin W. Domingue & Robbee Wedow & Louise Arseneault & Jason D. Boardman & Avshalom Caspi & Dalton Conley & Jason M. Fletcher & Jeremy Freese & Pamela Herd & Terrie E. Moffitt & , 2018. "Genetic analysis of social-class mobility in five longitudinal studies," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 115(31), pages 7275-7284, July.
    2. Aysu Okbay & Jonathan P. Beauchamp & Mark Alan Fontana & James J. Lee & Tune H. Pers & Cornelius A. Rietveld & Patrick Turley & Guo-Bo Chen & Valur Emilsson & S. Fleur W. Meddens & Sven Oskarsson & Jo, 2016. "Genome-wide association study identifies 74 loci associated with educational attainment," Nature, Nature, vol. 533(7604), pages 539-542, May.
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    1. Lebenbaum, Michael & Gagnon, France & de Oliveira, Claire & Laporte, Audrey, 2024. "Genetic endowments for social capital: An investigation accounting for genetic nurturing effects," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).

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