Neuroticism, Smoking Habits And Monoamine Oxidase Activity Linked!!
A medical Review of :"Genetic covariation of neuroticism with monoamine oxidase activity and smoking"
American Journal of Medical Genetics: Neuropsychiatric Genetics
12/11/2001
By Anne MacLennan
Both neuroticism and monoamine oxidase activity are linked with variation in smoking habits, and adjusting for the effect of smoking strengthens the association between the other two.
This is the view of the authors of this study on genetic covariation of neuroticism with monoamine oxidase activity and smoking.
Although variation in the personality trait of neuroticism is known to be affected by genetic influences, the genes involved have not yet been characterised. This is despite a number of association studies to date.
In an earlier study of platelet monoamine oxidase in 1,551 twin subjects, these researchers found a significant link between monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity and scores on the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire neuroticism scale.
Now, following further analyses, they suggest that both neuroticism and MAO activity are linked with variation in smoking habits and that adjusting for the effect of smoking in fact strengthens the link between MAO and neuroticism.
Katherine M. Kirk and colleagues from the University of Queensland and the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, and the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and University of Sydney, Sydney, all in Australia, and the Missouri Alcoholism Research Center, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, United States are doing this work.
In analysis of the genetic and environmental sources of covariation between neuroticism, smoking, and monoamine oxidase activity, this study found that approximately 8 percent of the genetic variance in neuroticism is due to the same additive genetic effects that contribute to variation in MOA.
This, in turn, suggests variation in neuroticism is linked in part with aspects of serotonin metabolism, these authors conclude.
American Journal of Medical Genetics: Neuropsychiatric Genetics Vol.105 Issue 8 2001 Pages 700-706>>
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