Mapping associations of polygenic scores with autistic and ADHD traits in a single city region
Zoe E. Reed (University of Bristol)
Richard Thomas (University of Bristol)
Andy Boyd (University of Bristol)
Gareth J. Griffith (University of Bristol)
Tim T. Morris (University College London)
Dheeraj Rai (Avon and Wiltshire Partnership NHS Mental Health Trust)
David Manley (TU Delft - Urban Studies, University of Bristol)
George Davey Smith (University of Bristol)
Oliver S.P. Davis (University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, The Alan Turing Institute, University of Bristol)
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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.
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