A new must-read article from the Plomin lab was published this week in the ICA Journal. Lin and Plomin used polygenic scores (derived from DNA variation in people) predict life outcomes from ages 2 to 25 in the same sample. Results showed that the scores predicted cognitive abilities (including IQ) and educational attainment well (up to r = .37). But they could also predict some non-cognitive outcomes, such as conduct problems and hyperactivity.
Predictions of IQ started weak (r = .03 at age 2) and increased steadily through adulthood (r = .37 at age 25). Predictions of educational outcomes also increased throughout childhood, peaking at age 16. Non-cognitive predictions were weaker (all r’s between 0 and .25), but that was expected because the polygenic scores were designed to maximally predict IQ and educational outcomes.
Because this was a longitudinal study, the authors could also see whether they could predict trends and growth. They found that children with higher polygenic scores started off with higher IQs and educational attainment and had faster growth over time. (In other words, “the rich got richer.”)
The results confirm findings from other behavioral genetics studies using other methodologies. For example, the study supports the claim that heritability of IQ increases with age. The study also supports the idea that genes and environment become more strongly correlated as children grown into adulthood.
It’s great work that pushes the field forward and confirms that children’s phenotypes can be predicted with polygenic score derived from adult data.
Original post: https://x.com/RiotIQ/status/2052481822358167876
Read the full open-access article here: https://doi.org/10.65550/001c.160052