ArticleEvidence-based mental health2019
Using Mendelian randomisation to assess causality in observational studies.
Article in Evidence-based mental health, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 84 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
84 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- No causal relationship between thyroid function and Parkinson's disease: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2024Pooled it
- Causal association of serum biomarkers with oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: a mendelian randomization study.BMC oral health · 2023Pooled it
- Causal relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and different sleep traits: a bidirectional Mendelian randomized study.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2023Trial
- Bidirectional causal association between cathepsins and neuropsychiatric disorders: univariate and multivariate Mendelian randomization study.European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience · 2026Article
- Potential causal role of mitochondrial biological effects in COVID-19: Evidence from Mendelian randomization study.Medicine · 2026Article
- Comorbidity of asthma and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in childhood: causal, shared early-life risk factors, or shared genetic liability?International journal of epidemiology · 2026Article
- Revealing causal associations of 91 inflammatory protein factors with endocarditis: Insights from genome-wide association study.Medicine · 2026Article
- The Causal Effect of Social Isolation on Cannabis Use Disorder and the Mediating Role of Depression: Evidence From a Mendelian Randomization Study.Brain and behavior · 2025Article
- Causal effect of potential risk factors on obstructive sleep apnea: a Mendelian randomization study.Future science OA · 2025Article
- Causal link between type 1 diabetes mellitus and juvenile idiopathic arthritis in Europe.Pediatric research · 2025Article
- Article
- Exploring the Association Between Multidimensional Dietary Patterns and Non-Scarring Hair Loss Using Mendelian Randomization.Nutrients · 2025Article
- Article
- Circulating Inflammatory Proteins Mediate the Causal Effect of Gut Microbiota on Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Bayesian and Mediated Mendelian Randomization.FASEB bioAdvances · 2025Article
- Disentangling the effects of nicotine versus non-nicotine constituents of tobacco smoke on major depressive disorder: A multivariable Mendelian randomisation study.Addiction (Abingdon, England) · 2025Article
- Association between chronic kidney disease and colorectal cancer: evidence from meta-analysis and Mendelian randomization.Discover oncology · 2025Article
- Exploring the role of gut microbiota in intervertebral disc degeneration: insights from bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2025Article
- Causal relationships between leukocyte telomere length and female reproductive system diseases: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.Reproductive and developmental medicine · 2025Article
- Genome-Wide Association Studies Data and Transcriptomics Data Link Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Infection and Parkinson's Disease.Parkinson's disease · 2025Article
- Causal Relationships of Chronic Constipation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Digestive Tract Cancers: A Mendelian Randomization Study.Recent patents on anti-cancer drug discovery · 2025Article
24 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveMendelian randomisation (MR) is a technique that aims to assess causal effects of exposures on disease outcomes. The paper aims to present the main assumptions that underlie MR, the statistical methods used to estimate causal effects and how to account for potential violations of the key assumptions.
methodsWe discuss the key assumptions that should be satisfied in an MR setting. We list the statistical methodologies used in two-sample MR when summary data are available to estimate causal effects (ie, Wald ratio estimator, inverse-variance weighted and maximum likelihood method) and identify/adjust for potential violations of MR assumptions (ie, MR-Egger regression and weighted Median approach). We also present statistical methods and graphical tools used to evaluate the presence of heterogeneity.
resultsWe use as an illustrative example of a published two-sample MR study, investigating the causal association of body mass index with three psychiatric disorders (ie, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and major depressive disorder). We highlight the importance of assessing the results of all available methods rather than each method alone. We also demonstrate the impact of heterogeneity in the estimation of the causal effects.
conclusionsMR is a useful tool to assess causality of risk factors in medical research. Assessment of the key assumptions underlying MR is crucial for a valid interpretation of the results.
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