Distribution and heritability of diurnal preference (chronotype) in a rural Brazilian family-based cohort, the Baependi study

Malcolm Von Schantz*, Tamara P. Taporoski, Andréa R.V.R. Horimoto, Nubia E. Duarte, Homero Vallada, José E. Krieger, Mario Pedrazzoli, André B. Negrão, Alexandre C. Pereira

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

62 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Diurnal preference (chronotype) is a useful instrument for studying circadian biology in humans. It harbours trait-like dimensions relating to circadian period and sleep homeostasis, but also has ontogenetic components (morningness increases with age). We used the Morningness-Eveningness questionnaire (MEQ) in the Baependi study, a family-based cohort study based in a small town in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The population is highly admixed and has a cohesive and conservative lifestyle. 825 individuals (497 female) aged 18-89 years (average ± SD = 46.4 ± 16.3) and belonging to 112 different families participated in this study. The average MEQ score was 63.5 ± 11.2 with a significant (P < 0.0001) linear increase with age. Morningness was significantly (P < 0.0001) higher in the rural (70.2 ± 9.8) than in the municipal zone (62.6 ± 11.1), and was also significantly (P = 0.025) higher in male (64.6 ± 10.9) than in female (62.8 ± 11.2) participants. Thus, in spite of universal access to electricity, the Baependi population was strongly shifted towards morningness, particularly in the rural zone. Heritability of MEQ score was 0.48 when adjusted for sex and age, or 0.38 when adjusted for sex, age, and residential zone. The reported MEQ score heritability is more akin to those of previous twin studies than previous family studies.

Original languageEnglish
Article number9214
Number of pages6
JournalScientific Reports
Volume5
Early online date18 Mar 2015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 2015
Externally publishedYes

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