Exploring the Role of Plasma Lipids and Statin Interventions on Multiple Sclerosis Risk and Severity: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background And Objectives: There has been considerable interest in statins because of their pleiotropic effects beyond their lipid-lowering properties. Many of these pleiotropic effects are predominantly ascribed to Rho small guanosine triphosphatases (Rho GTPases) proteins. We aimed to genetically investigate the role of lipids and statin interventions on multiple sclerosis (MS) risk and severity.

The role of body fat in multiple sclerosis susceptibility and severity: A Mendelian randomisation study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the potential causal associations of body mass index, height, weight, fat mass, fat percentage and non-fat mass in the whole body, arms, legs and trunk (henceforth, 'anthropometric measures') with multiple sclerosis (MS) risk and severity. We also investigated the potential for reverse causation between anthropometric measures and MS risk.

Methods: We conducted a two-sample univariable, multivariable and bidirectional Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis.

Finding genetically-supported drug targets for Parkinson's disease using Mendelian randomization of the druggable genome.

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative movement disorder that currently has no disease-modifying treatment, partly owing to inefficiencies in drug target identification and validation. We use Mendelian randomization to investigate over 3,000 genes that encode druggable proteins and predict their efficacy as drug targets for Parkinson's disease. We use expression and protein quantitative trait loci to mimic exposure to medications, and we examine the causal effect on Parkinson's disease risk (in two large cohorts), age at onset and progression.

Mendelian Randomisation Finds No Causal Association between Urate and Parkinson's Disease Progression.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative movement disorder. Observational studies suggest higher levels of plasma urate may protect against Parkinson's risk and progression; however, causality cannot be established.

Objectives: This study set out to determine whether there is a true causal association between urate levels and PD age at onset (AAO) and progression severity using recently released PD AAO and progression genome-wide association study (GWAS) data.

Genetic and Transcriptomic Biomarkers in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Current Situation and the Road Ahead.

Neurodegenerative diseases are etiologically and clinically heterogeneous conditions, often reflecting a spectrum of disease rather than well-defined disorders. The underlying molecular complexity of these diseases has made the discovery and validation of useful biomarkers challenging. The search of characteristic genetic and transcriptomic indicators for preclinical disease diagnosis, prognosis, or subtyping is an area of ongoing effort and interest.

Using Mendelian randomization to understand and develop treatments for neurodegenerative disease.

Common neurodegenerative diseases are thought to arise from a combination of environmental and genetic exposures. Mendelian randomization is a powerful way to leverage existing genetic data to investigate causal relationships between risk factors and disease. In recent years, Mendelian randomization has gathered considerable traction in neurodegenerative disease research, providing valuable insights into the aetiology of these conditions.