The largest study of its kind has found dozens of new genetic variants that determine longevity and intelligence.
According to a team of 65 authors, their Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) is the largest study of its kind. It covered a sample of more than 107 thousand people for whom neurophysiological testing of cognitive abilities was carried out. We also used detailed genetic data for more than 300 thousand people, distributed by educational level, which is considered an acceptable indicator of the average level of cognitive abilities in a group. The results of this large-scale work are presented in an article published in the journal Cell Reports.
Scientists managed to identify 70 unrelated genetic loci, the state of which correlates with the level of cognitive abilities. These genes are actively expressed in all areas of the brain studied, especially in neurons. Among them, the authors distinguish genes whose products are involved in neurogenesis and regulation of synapse, as well as ion channel genes that serve as targets for the action of pharmacological drugs cinnarizine and promising LY97241.
Finally, scientists point to a correlation between the condition of some of the genes found and various diseases, from psychiatric to autoimmune. Many of the alleles associated with high cognitive abilities have also been found to be characteristic of people with long lifespans.
“Since the number of genes we can find is directly related to the available sample size, new studies with additional participants are likely to provide even more insight into which genes and how roles play in shaping our cognitive abilities,” says Todd Lencz.), who directed this great work.