@article{ref1,
title="Familial Resemblance and Shared Latent Familial Variance in Recurrent Fall-Risk in Older Women",
journal="Journal of applied physiology",
year="2010",
author="Faulkner, Kimberly A. and Cauley, Jane A. and Roth, Stephen M. and Kammerer, Candace and Stone, K. and Hillier, Teresa A. and Ensrud, Kristine E. and Hochberg, Marc and Nevitt, M. C. and Zmuda, Joseph M.",
volume="108",
number="5",
pages="1142-1147",
abstract="Background A possible familial component to fracture risk may be mediated through a genetic liability to fall recurrently. Methods Our analysis sample included 186 female sibling-ships (N=401) of mean age =71.9 years (SD=5.0). Using variance component models, we estimated residual upper-limit heritabilities in fall-risk mobility phenotypes (e.g., chair-stand time, rapid step-ups, and usual-paced walking speed) and in recurrent falls. We also estimated familial and environmental (unmeasured) correlations between pairs of fall-risk mobility phenotypes. All models were adjusted for age, height, BMI, and medical and environmental factors. Results Residual upper-limit heritabilities were all moderate (p<0.05), ranging from 0.27 for usual-paced walking speed to 0.58 for recurrent falls. A strong familial correlation between usual-paced walking speed and rapid step-ups of 0.65 (p<0.01) was identified. Familial correlations between usual-paced walking speed and chair-stand time (-0.02) and between chair-stand time and rapid step-ups (-0.27) were both non-significant (p>0.05). Environmental correlations ranged from 0.35 to 0.58 (absolute values), p<0.05 for all. Conclusions There exists moderate familial resemblance in fall-risk mobility phenotypes and recurrent falls among older female siblings, which we expect is primarily genetic given that adult siblings live separate lives. All fall-risk mobility phenotypes may be co-influenced at least to a small degree by shared latent familial or environmental factors; however, up to approximately half of the covariation between usual-paced walking speed and rapid step-ups may be due to a common set of genes. Key words: falls, familial correlation, genetics, heritability.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="8750-7587",
doi="10.1152/japplphysiol.00128.2009",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00128.2009"
}