Mendelian randomisation analysis of the effect of educational attainment and cognitive ability on smoking behaviour

Eleanor Sanderson; George Davey Smith; Jack Bowden; Marcus Munafo

doi:10.1038/s41467-019-10679-y

Mendelian randomisation analysis of the effect of educational attainment and cognitive ability on smoking behaviour

Eleanor Sanderson^*, George Davey Smith, Jack Bowden, Marcus Munafo

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

154 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Recent analyses have shown educational attainment to be associated with a number of health outcomes. This association may, in part, be due to an effect of educational attainment on smoking behaviour. In this study, we apply a multivariable Mendelian randomisation design to determine whether the effect of educational attainment on smoking behaviour is due to educational attainment or general cognitive ability. We use individual data from the UK Biobank study (N = 120,050) and summary data from large GWA studies of educational attainment, cognitive ability and smoking behaviour. Our results show that more years of education are associated with a reduced likelihood of smoking that is not due to an effect of general cognitive ability on smoking behaviour. Given the considerable physical harms associated with smoking, the effect of educational attainment on smoking is likely to contribute to the health inequalities associated with differences in educational attainment.

Original language	English
Article number	2949
Number of pages	9
Journal	Nature Communications
Volume	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-10679-y
Publication status	Published - 3 Jul 2019

Structured keywords

Brain and Behaviour
Cognitive Science

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1 Finished
3 Active

Rework of IEU Munafo Programme
Munafo, M. R.
1/04/18 → 31/03/23
Project: Research
IEU: MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit Quinquennial renewal
Gaunt, L. F. & Davey Smith, G.
1/04/18 → 31/03/23
Project: Research
NIHR BRC Translational Population Health
Davey Smith, G.
1/04/17 → 31/03/22
Project: Research, Parent

Professor Marcus R Munafo
- Marcus.Munafo@bristol.ac.uk
- School of Psychological Science - Professor of Biological Psychology and MRC Investigator
- Bristol Population Health Science Institute
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit
- Bristol Neuroscience
Person: Academic , Member

Cite this

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title = "Mendelian randomisation analysis of the effect of educational attainment and cognitive ability on smoking behaviour",

abstract = "Recent analyses have shown educational attainment to be associated with a number of health outcomes. This association may, in part, be due to an effect of educational attainment on smoking behaviour. In this study, we apply a multivariable Mendelian randomisation design to determine whether the effect of educational attainment on smoking behaviour is due to educational attainment or general cognitive ability. We use individual data from the UK Biobank study (N = 120,050) and summary data from large GWA studies of educational attainment, cognitive ability and smoking behaviour. Our results show that more years of education are associated with a reduced likelihood of smoking that is not due to an effect of general cognitive ability on smoking behaviour. Given the considerable physical harms associated with smoking, the effect of educational attainment on smoking is likely to contribute to the health inequalities associated with differences in educational attainment.",

author = "Eleanor Sanderson and {Davey Smith}, George and Jack Bowden and Marcus Munafo",

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T1 - Mendelian randomisation analysis of the effect of educational attainment and cognitive ability on smoking behaviour

AU - Sanderson, Eleanor

AU - Davey Smith, George

AU - Bowden, Jack

AU - Munafo, Marcus

PY - 2019/7/3

Y1 - 2019/7/3

N2 - Recent analyses have shown educational attainment to be associated with a number of health outcomes. This association may, in part, be due to an effect of educational attainment on smoking behaviour. In this study, we apply a multivariable Mendelian randomisation design to determine whether the effect of educational attainment on smoking behaviour is due to educational attainment or general cognitive ability. We use individual data from the UK Biobank study (N = 120,050) and summary data from large GWA studies of educational attainment, cognitive ability and smoking behaviour. Our results show that more years of education are associated with a reduced likelihood of smoking that is not due to an effect of general cognitive ability on smoking behaviour. Given the considerable physical harms associated with smoking, the effect of educational attainment on smoking is likely to contribute to the health inequalities associated with differences in educational attainment.

AB - Recent analyses have shown educational attainment to be associated with a number of health outcomes. This association may, in part, be due to an effect of educational attainment on smoking behaviour. In this study, we apply a multivariable Mendelian randomisation design to determine whether the effect of educational attainment on smoking behaviour is due to educational attainment or general cognitive ability. We use individual data from the UK Biobank study (N = 120,050) and summary data from large GWA studies of educational attainment, cognitive ability and smoking behaviour. Our results show that more years of education are associated with a reduced likelihood of smoking that is not due to an effect of general cognitive ability on smoking behaviour. Given the considerable physical harms associated with smoking, the effect of educational attainment on smoking is likely to contribute to the health inequalities associated with differences in educational attainment.

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JO - Nature Communications

JF - Nature Communications

SN - 2041-1723

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ER -

Mendelian randomisation analysis of the effect of educational attainment and cognitive ability on smoking behaviour

Abstract

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Fingerprint Dive into the research topics of 'Mendelian randomisation analysis of the effect of educational attainment and cognitive ability on smoking behaviour'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Rework of IEU Munafo Programme

IEU: MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit Quinquennial renewal

NIHR BRC Translational Population Health

Professor Marcus R Munafo

Cite this