Summary: Researchers uncovered a genetic link between rapid height growth during puberty and increased health risks in adulthood, such as atrial fibrillation, type 2 diabetes, and lung cancer. The study analyzed growth patterns using data from 56,000 individuals, identifying 26 genes that influence growth dynamics during puberty.
These findings reveal how specific genetic factors related to pubertal growth can have long-term impacts on health, underscoring the importance of personalized medical approaches based on genetic profiles. The research provides crucial insights into how early life growth can inform the risk management of various adult diseases.
Key Facts:
- Genetic Factors Identified: Researchers identified 26 genes associated with the scale, timing, and intensity of pubertal growth spurts.
- Health Implications: Being taller at the start of puberty and growing quickly is linked to higher risks of several adult health issues, including atrial fibrillation, type 2 diabetes, and lung cancer.
- Large-Scale Analysis: The study used extensive data from individuals of diverse backgrounds to analyze pubertal growth patterns and their long-term health effects.
Source: University of Surrey
A genetic link between height growth during puberty and long-term health in adulthood has been identified by a new study from the University of Surrey and the University of Pennsylvania published in Genome Biology.
Researchers found that being taller early in puberty and growing quickly in height during this period is linked to a higher risk of atrial fibrillation later in life.
The research team investigated if genetics played a role in pubertal growth patterns and lifelong health conditions. Growth during this period can be hereditary, but the specific genetic factors underlying growth trajectories remain largely unknown.
To address this knowledge gap, researchers used a growth curve analysis on 56,000 people from diverse ancestral backgrounds containing their height measurements from five years old into adulthood. Such data gave researchers a comprehensive view of growth patterns across different populations and time periods.
Dr. Zhanna Balkhiyarova, co-author of the study and senior postdoctoral researcher from the University of Surrey, said, “Our study underscores the importance of large-scale genetic analyses in unraveling the complexities of human health.
“By using big data, we reveal new insights into the genetic factors that affect growth during puberty and their long-term effects. With each discovery, we inch closer to medicine that addresses the unique needs of every individual.”
Researchers identified 26 genes associated with various aspects of pubertal growth, including the scale, timing, and intensity of the growth spurt. Investigating further the lifelong impact of genetic variants associated with pubertal growth trajectories, researchers also analyzed genetic correlation and phenotypes (observable characteristics of an individual) on data from the Penn Medicine Biobank and the UK Biobank.
Using this data, the team found, for the first time, the genetic relationships between pediatric height growth and a wide range of health outcomes across a person’s lifespan.
Being taller at early puberty and experiencing quicker pubertal growth were associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation, an irregular and abnormally fast heart rate later in life.
They also found that individuals with a faster tempo of pubertal height growth have high levels of bone mineral density, higher levels of insulin resistance, and an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and lung cancer.
Dr. Anna Ulrich, formerly of the University of Surrey, said, “Our findings challenge the notion of a one-size-fits-all optimal growth pattern. Instead, they underscore the complex interplay between genetics and health, highlighting the importance of personalized approaches to health management.”
Professor Inga Prokopenko, senior researcher of the study, Professor of e-One Health and Head of Statistical Multi-Omics at the University of Surrey, said, “This study represents a major step forward in understanding the genetic basis of pubertal growth and its far-reaching implications for lifelong health.
“As we unlock the secrets encoded in our DNA, we move closer to a future where tailored interventions based on individual genetic profiles revolutionize health care.”
About this genetics and neurodevelopment research news
Author: Zhanna Balkhiyarova
Source: University of Surrey
Contact: Zhanna Balkhiyarova – University of Surrey
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
“Trans-ancestral genome-wide association study of longitudinal pubertal height growth and shared heritability with adult health outcomes” by Jonathan P. Bradfield et al. Genome Biology
Abstract
Trans-ancestral genome-wide association study of longitudinal pubertal height growth and shared heritability with adult health outcomes
Background
Pubertal growth patterns correlate with future health outcomes. However, the genetic mechanisms mediating growth trajectories remain largely unknown. Here, we modeled longitudinal height growth with Super-Imposition by Translation And Rotation (SITAR) growth curve analysis on ~ 56,000 trans-ancestry samples with repeated height measurements from age 5 years to adulthood.
We performed genetic analysis on six phenotypes representing the magnitude, timing, and intensity of the pubertal growth spurt. To investigate the lifelong impact of genetic variants associated with pubertal growth trajectories, we performed genetic correlation analyses and phenome-wide association studies in the Penn Medicine BioBank and the UK Biobank.
Results
Large-scale growth modeling enables an unprecedented view of adolescent growth across contemporary and 20th-century pediatric cohorts. We identify 26 genome-wide significant loci and leverage trans-ancestry data to perform fine-mapping. Our data reveals genetic relationships between pediatric height growth and health across the life course, with different growth trajectories correlated with different outcomes.
For instance, a faster tempo of pubertal growth correlates with higher bone mineral density, HOMA-IR, fasting insulin, type 2 diabetes, and lung cancer, whereas being taller at early puberty, taller across puberty, and having quicker pubertal growth were associated with higher risk for atrial fibrillation.
Conclusion
We report novel genetic associations with the tempo of pubertal growth and find that genetic determinants of growth are correlated with reproductive, glycemic, respiratory, and cardiac traits in adulthood. These results aid in identifying specific growth trajectories impacting lifelong health and show that there may not be a single “optimal” pubertal growth pattern.
Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
