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TRAILS

2023

Substance abuse: Disentangling the interplay between genes, cognitive skills, and educational level in adolescent and young adult smoking – the TRAILS study

Authors: Schmengler H, Oldehinkel AJ, Vollebergh WAM, Pasman JA, Hartman CA, Stevens GWJM, Nolte IM, Peeters M

Highlights

  • Correlated genetic risk factors predict educational inequalities in smoking
  • We studied the mechanisms linking genetics to educational differences in smoking
  • Genes predicted cognitive skills in childhood, which predicted educational level
  • A lower educational level in adolescence was in turn associated with more smoking
  • The social context may drive associations between genetic liabilities and smoking