Tag

Twin Studies

All articles tagged with #twin studies

science10 hours ago•5 min saved

Lifespan More Genetically Wired Than We Realized, New Study Finds

A new Science study estimates that about 55% of human lifespan is heritable, roughly double previous estimates, after carefully separating intrinsic genetic factors from extrinsic causes of death. By analyzing twin data, varying age cutoffs, and corroborating with Scandinavian twins and American centenarian siblings, researchers show that reducing extrinsic mortality reveals the stronger genetic signal and that aging-related frailty can blur it. The finding reshapes how aging research is funded and pursued, and points to the search for specific genetic variants that govern intrinsic aging.

via Indian Defence Review|

#aging #genetics #heritability

science6 days ago•37 min saved

Genes May Set Half Your Lifespan, New Study Finds

New research suggests genetic factors account for about 50% (roughly 50–55%) of human lifespan, higher than previous estimates. Using twin simulations and real-world data, researchers show that extrinsic mortality and historical age cutoffs biased earlier heritability estimates downward; when corrected, heritability rises to about half. Scandinavian twin data and studies of siblings of centenarians corroborate the finding, pointing aging research toward identifying the specific genetic variants that govern longevity.

via Yahoo News Canada|

#aging #genetics #heredity

science25 days ago•18 min saved

The Complex Recipe of Personality: Genes Meet Life Experience

New genetic research shows personality is not fixed at birth. Twin studies once suggested substantial heritability, but genome-wide studies now estimate that only about 9–18% of personality variation is explained by common genetic variants, with the rest arising from environmental factors and gene–environment interactions. The idea of a simple “warrior gene” predictor has not held up, and personality appears to be polygenic and poly-environmental, influenced by many small effects across life experiences, including limited impact from major adulthood traumas but possible subtle effects from prenatal stress and foetal programming. Researchers emphasize very large, diverse datasets to uncover the tiny genetic contributions across the Big Five traits.

via BBC|

#genetics #heritability #personality

science29 days ago•29 min saved

Narcissism Largely Genetic: Family Similarities Rooted in DNA

A large German twin-family study (6,715 participants) finds that about 50% of the variation in narcissism is due to genetics, with the other 50% from nonshared environmental factors; the shared family environment and parenting contribute virtually nothing. The resemblance between parents and children is driven by biology, not parenting behavior, and assortative mating also plays a role in transmitting biological markers. The study challenges the idea that parenting styles mold narcissism and suggests future work should focus on nonshared experiences and underlying biological mechanisms like hormones and neural reward systems.

via PsyPost|

#genetics #heritability #narcissism

science2 months ago•20 min saved

Twin data suggests genetics plays bigger role in lifespan than previously thought

Using decades of twin data from Denmark and Sweden, researchers estimate that genetics account for about 55% of lifespan variation after removing extrinsic causes of death, with lifestyle and environment making up the remaining ~45%. The findings imply a possible genetic ceiling to human lifespan, though no single longevity gene exists and lifestyle still matters. The study calls for larger, more diverse datasets to confirm whether this genetic limit holds across populations.

via Earth.com|

#aging #genetics #heredity

science3 months ago•17 min saved

Geography of the Self: How Growing Up Elsewhere Shapes Your Personality

Cross-cultural psychology shows personality stems from both genes and environment; where you grow up can reshape traits, self-identity, and behavior, with twin studies and cross-country comparisons illustrating environment’s lasting influence alongside genetic factors.

via BBC|

#cross-cultural-psychology #culture-and-personality #nature-vs-nurture

science3 months ago•3 min saved

Genes Hold a Stronger Grip on Lifespan Than Previously Thought

A large twin-based analysis from the Weizmann Institute estimates that about 55% of the variation in human lifespan is genetic—far higher than prior 6–25% figures—after separating intrinsic aging from extrinsic death causes and studying twins and siblings raised apart. The finding, published in Science (2026), suggests genetics has a major role in aging and will spur ongoing searches for longevity genes using modern datasets.

via ScienceAlert|

#aging #genetics #heredity

neuroscience2 years ago•4 min saved

"Environmental Influence on Emotional and Cognitive Abilities Trumps Genetic Factors"

A study involving twins suggests that environmental factors may have a greater impact on certain cognitive abilities, such as metacognition and mentalizing, than genetics. Twins raised in similar educational and socio-economic environments displayed similar cognitive traits, challenging previous beliefs about the heritability of these skills. The findings highlight the crucial role of family environment in shaping cognitive abilities and suggest that metacognition and mentalizing are more influenced by environmental factors than genetics.

via Neuroscience News|

#cognitive-abilities #environment #genetics

health2 years ago•4 min saved

Navigating the Bidirectional Link Between Body Weight and Emotional Eating

A study analyzing data from the Twins Early Development Study and the UK Adult Twin Registry has found a bidirectional relationship between body mass index (BMI) and depressive symptoms during adolescence, with depressive symptoms contributing to subsequent weight gain and increased BMI leading to the emergence of depressive symptoms. After the age of 16, only depressive symptoms contribute to later weight gain. The research sheds light on the nature of links between depression and BMI during adolescence, but it also has limitations, as it was conducted on twins and assumes no interactions between genes and environment.

via PsyPost|

#adolescence #bidirectional-relationship #body-mass-index

health2 years ago•4 min saved

Uncovering the Genetic Connection: Eating Disorders and Alcohol Use

A comprehensive study of adolescent twins has revealed a genetic link between disordered eating and alcohol use disorders (AUDs), with worse outcomes, including fatality, when these conditions co-occur in younger teens. The study, conducted in the U.S. and Sweden, found that the correlation between disordered eating and alcohol use is influenced differently in males and females. The research highlights the importance of sex-specific treatment strategies and could help identify vulnerable teens. Screening for both conditions in late adolescents presenting with symptoms could improve detection and treatment. Further research is needed to understand specific genetic and environmental factors affecting co-occurring conditions.

via Neuroscience News|

#adolescents #alcohol-use-disorders #eating-disorders

science-and-health2 years ago•4 min saved

"The Intriguing World of Twins: Unidentical Phenomena and Other Fascinating Facts"

The Twins Days Festival in Twinsburg, Ohio, is the largest gathering of twins in the world, highlighting the increasing number of twin births in the United States. Twin studies provide valuable biological information for geneticists, helping them understand diseases, eating disorders, obesity, sexual orientation, and psychological traits. Identical twins share 99.99% of their DNA, making them ideal for studying the impact of genes and the environment on traits. Scott Kelly's year in space altered his genes, changing his DNA expression, immune system, bone formation, and eyesight. Studies suggest that heredity plays a significant role in determining sexual orientation, with genetics outweighing other influences such as parenting and environment.

via National Geographic|

#genetics #nature-vs-nurture #science-and-health