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Genetic Component of Noise Sensitivity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

Marja Heinonen-Guzejev ,
Heikki S. Vuorinen ,
Helena Mussalo-Rauhamaa ,
Kauko Heikkilä ,
Markku Koskenvuo  and
Jaakko Kaprio
Marja Heinonen-Guzejev*
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland. [email protected]
Heikki S. Vuorinen
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Helena Mussalo-Rauhamaa
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Kauko Heikkilä
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Markku Koskenvuo
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Jaakko Kaprio
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland; Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland.
*
*Address for correspondence: Marja Heinonen-Guzejev, MD, Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014, Finland.

Abstract

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We investigated the genetic component of noise sensitivity using a twin-study design. The study sample consisted of 573 same-sexed twin pairs from the Finnish Twin Cohort. The 131 monozygotic (MZ) and 442 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs with an age range of 31 to 88 years replied to a questionnaire on noise and health-related items in 1988. The noise sensitivity of respondents was defined as high, quite high, quite low or low. MZ pairs were more similar with regards noise sensitivity than DZ pairs, and quantitative genetic modeling indicated significant familiality. The best z-fitting genetic model provided an estimate of heritability of 36% (95% CI = .20–.50) and when hearing impaired subjects were excluded this rose to 40% (95% CI = .24–.54). In conclusion, noise sensitivity does aggregate in families and probably has a genetic component.

Type
Articles
Information
Twin Research and Human Genetics , Volume 8 , Issue 3 , 01 June 2005 , pp. 245 - 249
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2005