The Promise of Pooled Twin Studies for Exploring Genetic and Epigenetic Interplay: IGEMS

The Interplay of Genes and Environment across Multiple Studies (IGEMS) consortium of 15 existing longitudinal twin and family studies was initiated with a central focus on determining gene-environment interplay of social... [ view full abstract ]

The Interplay of Genes and Environment across Multiple Studies (IGEMS) consortium of 15 existing longitudinal twin and family studies was initiated with a central focus on determining gene-environment interplay of social context and mid- and late-life functioning.

This symposium presents a variety of analyses that demonstrate the promise of pooled twin studies for exploring genetic and epigenetic interplay. We provide examples of how behavioral genetic methods can be used for understanding social class effects, age and sex moderation of GE on a harmonized measure of financial strain and childhood social class as a moderator of late-life cognitive abilities. We also demonstrate how PRS scores for well-being are predict health problems, and evaluate longitudinal variance components across 10 years for the epigenetic clock and its constituent CpGs. Supported by Grant No. R01 AG037985