Genetic variants linked to education predict longevity Marioni, Riccardo E. Marioni Riccardo E. Ritchie, Stuart J. Ritchie Stuart J. Joshi, Peter K. Joshi Peter K. Hagenaars, Saskia P. Hagenaars Saskia P. Okbay, Aysu Okbay Aysu Fischer, Krista Fischer Krista Adams, Mark J. Adams Mark J. Hill, W. David Hill W. David Davies, Gail Davies Gail Nagy, Reka Nagy Reka Amador, Carmen Amador Carmen Läll, Kristi Läll Kristi Metspalu, Andres Metspalu Andres Liewald, David C. Liewald David C. Campbell, Archie Campbell Archie Wilson, James F. Wilson James F. Hayward, Caroline Hayward Caroline Esko, Tõnu Esko Tõnu Porteous, David J. Porteous David J. Gale, Catharine R. Gale Catharine R. Deary, Ian J. Deary Ian J. Beauchamp, Jonathan P. Beauchamp Jonathan P. Fontana, Mark A. Fontana Mark A. Lee, James J. Lee James J. Pers, Tune H. Pers Tune H. Rietveld, Cornelius A. Rietveld Cornelius A. Turley, Patrick Turley Patrick Chen, Guo-Bo Chen Guo-Bo Emilsson, Valur Emilsson Valur Meddens, S. Fleur W. Meddens S. Fleur W. Oskarsson, Sven Oskarsson Sven Pickrell, Joseph K. Pickrell Joseph K. Thom, Kevin Thom Kevin Timshel, Pascal Timshel Pascal Vlaming, Ronald Vlaming Ronald Abdellaoui, Abdel Abdellaoui Abdel Ahluwalia, Tarunveer S. Ahluwalia Tarunveer S. Bacelis, Jonas Bacelis Jonas Baumbach, Clemens Baumbach Clemens Bjornsdottir, Gyda Bjornsdottir Gyda Brandsma, Johannes H. Brandsma Johannes H. Concas, Maria Pina Concas Maria Pina Derringer, Jaime Derringer Jaime Furlotte, Nicholas A. Furlotte Nicholas A. Galesloot, Tessel E. Galesloot Tessel E. Girotto, Giorgia Girotto Giorgia Gupta, Richa Gupta Richa Hall, Leanne M. Hall Leanne M. Harris, Sarah E. Harris Sarah E. Hofer, Edith Hofer Edith Horikoshi, Momoko Horikoshi Momoko Huffman, Jennifer E. Huffman Jennifer E. Kaasik, Kadri Kaasik Kadri Kalafati, Ioanna P. Kalafati Ioanna P. Karlsson, Robert Karlsson Robert Kong, Augustine Kong Augustine Lahti, Jari Lahti Jari van der Lee, Sven J. van der Lee Sven J. Leeuw, Christiaan Leeuw Christiaan Lind, Penelope A. Lind Penelope A. Lindgren, Karl-Oskar Lindgren Karl-Oskar Liu, Tian Liu Tian Mangino, Massimo Mangino Massimo Marten, Jonathan Marten Jonathan Mihailov, Evelin Mihailov Evelin Miller, Michael B. Miller Michael B. van der Most, Peter J. van der Most Peter J. Oldmeadow, Christopher Oldmeadow Christopher Payton, Antony Payton Antony Pervjakova, Natalia Pervjakova Natalia Peyrot, Wouter J. Peyrot Wouter J. Qian, Yong Qian Yong Raitakari, Olli Raitakari Olli Rueedi, Rico Rueedi Rico Salvi, Erika Salvi Erika Schmidt, Börge Schmidt Börge Schraut, Katharina E. Schraut Katharina E. Shi, Jianxin Shi Jianxin Smith, Albert V. Smith Albert V. Poot, Raymond A. Poot Raymond A. St. Pourcain, Beate St. Pourcain Beate Teumer, Alexander Teumer Alexander Thorleifsson, Gudmar Thorleifsson Gudmar Verweij, Niek Verweij Niek Vuckovic, Dragana Vuckovic Dragana Wellmann, Juergen Wellmann Juergen Westra, Harm-Jan Westra Harm-Jan Yang, Jingyun Yang Jingyun Zhao, Wei Zhao Wei Zhu, Zhihong Zhu Zhihong Alizadeh, Behrooz Z. Alizadeh Behrooz Z. Amin, Najaf Amin Najaf Bakshi, Andrew Bakshi Andrew Baumeister, Sebastian E. Baumeister Sebastian E. Ginevra, Ginevra Ginevra Ginevra Bønnelykke, Klaus Bønnelykke Klaus Boyle, Patricia A. Boyle Patricia A. Campbell, Harry Campbell Harry Cappuccio, Francesco P. Cappuccio Francesco P. De Neve, Jan-Emmanuel De Neve Jan-Emmanuel Deloukas, Panos Deloukas Panos Demuth, Ilja Demuth Ilja Ding, Jun Ding Jun Eibich, Peter Eibich Peter Eisele, Lewin Eisele Lewin Eklund, Niina Eklund Niina Evans, David M. Evans David M. Faul, Jessica D. Faul Jessica D. Feitosa, Mary F. Feitosa Mary F. Forstner, Andreas J. Forstner Andreas J. Gandin, Ilaria Gandin Ilaria Gunnarsson, Bjarni Gunnarsson Bjarni Halldórsson, Bjarni V. Halldórsson Bjarni V. Harris, Tamara B. Harris Tamara B. Heath, Andrew C. Heath Andrew C. Hocking, Lynne J. Hocking Lynne J. Holliday, Elizabeth G Holliday Elizabeth G Homuth, Georg Homuth Georg Horan, Michael A. Horan Michael A. Hottenga, Jouke-Jan Hottenga Jouke-Jan de Jager, Philip L. de Jager Philip L. Jugessur, Astanand Jugessur Astanand Kaakinen, Marika A. Kaakinen Marika A. Kähönen, Mika Kähönen Mika Kanoni, Stavroula Kanoni Stavroula Keltigangas-Järvinen, Liisa Keltigangas-Järvinen Liisa Kiemeney, Lambertus A.L.M. Kiemeney Lambertus A.L.M. Kolcic, Ivana Kolcic Ivana Koskinen, Seppo Koskinen Seppo Kraja, Aldi T. Kraja Aldi T. Kroh, Martin Kroh Martin Kutalik, Zoltan Kutalik Zoltan Latvala, Antti Latvala Antti Launer, Lenore J. Launer Lenore J. Lebreton, Maël P. Lebreton Maël P. Levinson, Douglas F. Levinson Douglas F. Lichtenstein, Paul Lichtenstein Paul Lichtner, Peter Lichtner Peter Loukola, Anu Loukola Anu Madden, Pamela A. Madden Pamela A. Mägi, Reedik Mägi Reedik Mäki-Opas, Tomi Mäki-Opas Tomi Marques-Vidal, Pedro Marques-Vidal Pedro Meddens, Gerardus A. Meddens Gerardus A. McMahon, George McMahon George Meisinger, Christa Meisinger Christa Meitinger, Thomas Meitinger Thomas Milaneschi, Yusplitri Milaneschi Yusplitri Milani, Lili Milani Lili Montgomery, Grant W. Montgomery Grant W. Myhre, Ronny Myhre Ronny Nelson, Christopher P. Nelson Christopher P. Nyholt, Dale R. Nyholt Dale R. Ollier, William E.R. Ollier William E.R. Palotie, Aarno Palotie Aarno Paternoster, Lavinia Paternoster Lavinia Pedersen, Nancy L. Pedersen Nancy L. Petrovic, Katja E. Petrovic Katja E. Räikkönen, Katri Räikkönen Katri Ring, Susan M. Ring Susan M. Robino, Antonietta Robino Antonietta Rostapshova, Olga Rostapshova Olga Rudan, Igor Rudan Igor Rustichini, Aldo Rustichini Aldo Salomaa, Veikko Salomaa Veikko Sanders, Alan R. Sanders Alan R. Sarin, Antti-Pekka Sarin Antti-Pekka Schmidt, Helena Schmidt Helena Scott, Rodney J. Scott Rodney J. Smith, Blair H. Smith Blair H. Smith, Jennifer A. Smith Jennifer A. Staessen, Jan A. Staessen Jan A. Steinhagen-Thiessen, Elisabeth Steinhagen-Thiessen Elisabeth Strauch, Konstantin Strauch Konstantin Terracciano, Antonio Terracciano Antonio Tobin, Martin D. Tobin Martin D. Ulivi, Sheila Ulivi Sheila Vaccargiu, Simona Vaccargiu Simona Quaye, Lydia Quaye Lydia van Rooij, Frank J.A. van Rooij Frank J.A. Venturini, Cristina Venturini Cristina Vinkhuyzen, Anna A.E. Vinkhuyzen Anna A.E. Völker, Uwe Völker Uwe Völzke, Henry Völzke Henry Vonk, Judith M. Vonk Judith M. Vozzi, Diego Vozzi Diego Waage, Johannes Waage Johannes Ware, Erin B. Ware Erin B. Willemsen, Gonneke Willemsen Gonneke Attia, John R. Attia John R. Bennett, David A. Bennett David A. Berger, Klaus Berger Klaus Bertram, Lars Bertram Lars Bisgaard, Hans Bisgaard Hans Boomsma, Dorret I. Boomsma Dorret I. Borecki, Ingrid B. Borecki Ingrid B. Bultmann, Ute Bultmann Ute Chabris, Christopher F. Chabris Christopher F. Cucca, Francesco Cucca Francesco Cusi, Daniele Cusi Daniele Dedoussis, George V. Dedoussis George V. van Duijn, Cornelia M. van Duijn Cornelia M. Eriksson, Johan G. Eriksson Johan G. Franke, Barbara Franke Barbara Franke, Lude Franke Lude Gasparini, Paolo Gasparini Paolo Gejman, Pablo V. Gejman Pablo V. Gieger, Christian Gieger Christian Grabe, Hans-Jörgen Grabe Hans-Jörgen Gratten, Jacob Gratten Jacob Groenen, Patrick J.F. Groenen Patrick J.F. Gudnason, Vilmundur Gudnason Vilmundur van der Harst, Pim van der Harst Pim Hinds, David A. Hinds David A. Hoffmann, Wolfgang Hoffmann Wolfgang Hypponen, Elina Hypponen Elina Iacono, William G. Iacono William G. Jacobsson, Bo Jacobsson Bo Järvelin, Marjo- Riitta Järvelin Marjo- Riitta Jöckel, Karl-Heinz Jöckel Karl-Heinz Kaprio, Jaakko Kaprio Jaakko Kardia, Sharon L.R. Kardia Sharon L.R. Lehtimäki, Terho Lehtimäki Terho Lehrer, Steven F. Lehrer Steven F. Magnusson, Patrik K.E. Magnusson Patrik K.E. Martin, Nicholas G. Martin Nicholas G. McGue, Matt McGue Matt Pendleton, Neil Pendleton Neil Penninx, Brenda W.J.H. Penninx Brenda W.J.H. Perola, Markus Perola Markus Pirastu, Nicola Pirastu Nicola Pirastu, Mario Pirastu Mario Polasek, Ozren Polasek Ozren Posthuma, Danielle Posthuma Danielle Power, Christine Power Christine Province, Michael A. Province Michael A. Samani, Nilesh J. Samani Nilesh J. Schlessinger, David Schlessinger David Schmidt, Reinhold Schmidt Reinhold Sørensen, Thorkild I.A. Sørensen Thorkild I.A. Spector, Tim D. Spector Tim D. Stefansson, Kari Stefansson Kari Thorsteinsdottir, Unnur Thorsteinsdottir Unnur Thurik, A. Roy Thurik A. Roy Timpson, Nicholas J Timpson Nicholas J Tiemeier, Henning Tiemeier Henning Tung, Joyce Y. Tung Joyce Y. Uitterlinden, André G. Uitterlinden André G. Vitart, Veronique Vitart Veronique Vollenweider, Peter Vollenweider Peter Weir, David R. Weir David R. Wright, Alan F. Wright Alan F. Conley, Dalton C. Conley Dalton C. Krueger, Robert F. Krueger Robert F. Smith, George Davey Smith George Davey Hofman, Albert Hofman Albert Laibson, David I. Laibson David I. Medland, Sarah E. Medland Sarah E. Meyer, Michelle N. Meyer Michelle N. Yang, Jian Yang Jian Johannesson, Magnus Johannesson Magnus Visscher, Peter M. Visscher Peter M. Koellinger, Philipp D. Koellinger Philipp D. Cesarini, David Cesarini David Benjamin, Daniel J. Benjamin Daniel J. This article contains supporting information online at [http://www.pnas.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1073/pnas.1605334113/-/DCSupplemental](http://www.pnas.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1073/pnas.1605334113/-/DCSupplemental). <br /> Educational attainment is associated with many health outcomes, including longevity. It is also known to be substantially heritable. Here, we used data from three large genetic epidemiology cohort studies (Generation Scotland, n = ∼17,000; UK Biobank, n = ∼115,000; and the Estonian Biobank, n = ∼6,000) to test whether education-linked genetic variants can predict lifespan length. We did so by using cohort members’ polygenic profile score for education to predict their parents’ longevity. Across the three cohorts, meta-analysis showed that a 1 SD higher polygenic education score was associated with ∼2.7% lower mortality risk for both mothers (total ndeaths = 79,702) and ∼2.4% lower risk for fathers (total ndeaths = 97,630). On average, the parents of offspring in the upper third of the polygenic score distribution lived 0.55 y longer compared with those of offspring in the lower third. Overall, these results indicate that the genetic contributions to educational attainment are useful in the prediction of human longevity. 113 47 13366-13371 13366-13371 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2016 1