TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2010//
TI  - Familial Resemblance and Shared Latent Familial Variance in Recurrent Fall-Risk in Older Women
JO  - Journal of applied physiology
A1  - Faulkner, Kimberly A.
A1  - Cauley, Jane A.
A1  - Roth, Stephen M.
A1  - Kammerer, Candace
A1  - Stone, K.
A1  - Hillier, Teresa A.
A1  - Ensrud, Kristine E.
A1  - Hochberg, Marc
A1  - Nevitt, M. C.
A1  - Zmuda, Joseph M.
SP  - 1142
EP  - 1147
VL  - 108
IS  - 5
N2  - 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>
LA  - en
SN  - 8750-7587
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00128.2009
ID  - ref1
ER  -