Abstract
Background
The genetic and environmental aetiology of autistic and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) traits is known to vary spatially, but does this translate into variation in the association of specific common genetic variants?
Methods
We mapped associations between polygenic scores for autism and ADHD and their respective traits in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (N = 4,255–6,165) across the area surrounding Bristol, UK, and compared them to maps of environments associated with the prevalence of autism and ADHD.
Results
Our results suggest genetic associations vary spatially, with consistent patterns for autistic traits across polygenic scores constructed at different p-value thresholds. Patterns for ADHD traits were more variable across thresholds. We found that the spatial distributions often correlated with known environmental influences.
Conclusions
These findings shed light on the factors that contribute to the complex interplay between the environment and genetic influences in autistic and ADHD traits.
The genetic and environmental aetiology of autistic and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) traits is known to vary spatially, but does this translate into variation in the association of specific common genetic variants?
Methods
We mapped associations between polygenic scores for autism and ADHD and their respective traits in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (N = 4,255–6,165) across the area surrounding Bristol, UK, and compared them to maps of environments associated with the prevalence of autism and ADHD.
Results
Our results suggest genetic associations vary spatially, with consistent patterns for autistic traits across polygenic scores constructed at different p-value thresholds. Patterns for ADHD traits were more variable across thresholds. We found that the spatial distributions often correlated with known environmental influences.
Conclusions
These findings shed light on the factors that contribute to the complex interplay between the environment and genetic influences in autistic and ADHD traits.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2024 |
Keywords
- ADHD
- ALSPAC
- autism
- polygenic risk score
- spatial
