Influences of genetically predicted and attained education on geographical mobility and their association with mortality : A cohort study investigating the influence of genetic predisposition to higher education as well as attained education on geographic mobility and differences in mortality risk in Swedish twins born 1926-1955

Sammanfattning

Introduction Research show that both educational attainment and genetic propensity to education (PGSEdu) can be associated with geographic mobility and that individuals living in more deprived areas tend to have poorer health while those living in more advantaged places tend to have better health. In this thesis, the aim was to study how polygenic scores for education and attained education influence and differ by geographic mobility, and how they influence the association between geographic mobility and mortality. Methods Data was retrieved from the Swedish Twin Registry with twins born 1926-1955 (n=14,211). Logistic regression models were performed to test if PGSEdu and attained education predicted geographic mobility. Cox regression models were then performed to test if geographic mobility, attained education or PGSEdu decreased the risk of mortality. Results The results show that both the PGSEdu and attained education predicted geographic mobility, in both independent and joint models, with higher education indicating a higher mobility. Geographic mobility decreased the risk of mortality in the independent model, but joint models showed that the association was completely explained by attained education. Conclusions To conclude, both PGSEdu and attained education influenced geographic mobility. Moreover, attained education explained the relationship between geographic mobility and mortality.