Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-hfldf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-02T12:23:53.963Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A Developmental Hypothesis for Adult Blood Pressure

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

J.K. Hewitt*
Affiliation:
Department of Human Genetics, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, USA Department of Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK
D. Carroll
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK
J. Sims
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK
L.J. Eaves
Affiliation:
Department of Human Genetics, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, USA
*
Dept. of Human Genetics, Box 33, MCV Station, Richmond VA 23298, U.S.A.

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Observed increases in phenotypic variance for blood pressure during adulthood are a predictable consequence of an a priori model for developmental change and continuity previously applied to cognitive development. The implications of this model for genetic and environmental covariances depend on the mechanism which maintains developmental continuity. Using data from young adult twins and their parents, it is shown how traditionally estimated genetic and environmental parameters may be reinterpreted in the light of the developmental model. Illustrative data suggest a hypothesis that genetic effects on blood pressure are largely temporally pleiotropic, acting consistently but not cumulatively throughout adulthood, while environmental influences act haphazardly but their effects are transmitted forward with high fidelity.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1987

References

REFERENCES

1. Baron, AE, Freyer, B, Fixlet, DE (1986): Longitudinal blood pressure in Blacks, Whites and Mexican Americans during adolescence and early adulthood. Am J Epidemiol 123:809817.Google Scholar
2. Corey, LA, Eaves, LJ, Mellen, BG, Nance, WE (1986): Testing for developmental changes in gene expression on resemblance for quantitative traits in kinships of twins: application to height, weight and blood pressure. Genet Epidemiol 3:7383.Google Scholar
3. DeFaire, U, Iselius, L, Lundman, T (1982): Biological and cultural determinants of blood pressure. Hypertension 4:725728.Google Scholar
4. Eaves, LJ, Long, J, Heath, AC (1986): A theory of developmental change in quantitative phenotypes applied to cognitive development. Behav Genet 16:143162.Google Scholar
5. Feinleib, M (1975): Blood pressure studies in spouses: discussion. In Paul, O (ed): Epidemiology and Control of Hypertension. New York: Stratton Intercontinental Medical Book Company, pp. 3739.Google Scholar
6. Hadden, WC, Harris, MI (1987): Prevalence of diagnosed diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance in adults 20-74 years of age. US Department of Health and Human Services, Publication number (PHS) 871687.Google Scholar
7. Harburg, E, Schork, MA, Enfurt, JC, Schull, W and Chape, C (1977): Heredity, stress and blood pressure. A family set method. J Chron Dis: 30:649685.Google Scholar
8. Havlik, RJ, Feinleib, M (1982): Epidemiology and genetics of hypertension. Hypertension 4 (Suppl 3):121127.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9. Hewitt, JK, Eaves, LJ, Neale, MC (1988): Resolving the causes of developmental continuity or tracking: Longitudinal twin studies during growth. Behav Genet 18:2, in press.Google Scholar
10. Joreskog, KG, Sorbom, D (1984): LISREL VI User's Guide. Mooresville, Indiana: Scientific Software Inc.Google Scholar
11. Kalousdian, S, Fabsitz, R, Havlik, R, Christian, J, Rosenman, R (1987): Heritability of clinical chemistries in an older twin cohort: the NHLBI Twin Study. Genet Epidemiol 4:111.Google Scholar
12. Pan, W, Nanas, S, Dyer, A, Lin, K, McDonald, A, Schoenberger, JA, Shekelle, RB, Stamler, R, Stamler, J (1986): The role of weight in the positive association between age and blood pressure. Am J Epidemiol 124:612623.Google Scholar
13. Province, MA, Rao, DC (1985): A new model for the resolution of cultural and biological inheritance in the presence of temporal trends: application to systolic blood pressure. Genet Epidemiol 2: 363374.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14. Robert, J, Maurer, K (1977): Blood pressure levels of persons 6-74 years. U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Publication number (HRA) 781648.Google Scholar
15. Rose, RJ, Muller, JZ, Grim, CE, Christian, JC (1979): Aggregation of blood pressure in the families of identical twins. Am J Epidemiol 109:503511.Google Scholar
16. Sims, J, Hewitt, JK, Kelly, KA, Carroll, D, Turner, JR (1986): Familial and individual influences of blood pressure. Acta Genet Med Gemellol 35:721.Google Scholar
17. Sims, J, Carroll, D, Hewitt, JK, Turner, JR (1987): A family study of developmental effects upon blood pressure variation. Acta Genet Med Gemellol.Google Scholar