Introduction: Increased levels of sex hormones have been hypothesized to decrease Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk. We assessed the association between sex steroid hormones with AD using a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach.

Methods: An inverse-variance weighting (IVW) MR analysis was performed using effect estimates from external genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics. We included independent variants (linkage disequilibrium R  < 0.001) and a p-value threshold of 5 × 10 .

Results: An increase in androgens was associated with a decreased AD risk among men: testosterone (odds ratio [OR]: 0.53; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.32-0.88; p-value: 0.01; false discovery rate [FDR] p-value: 0.03); dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS; OR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.38-0.85; p-value: 0.01; FDR p-value: 0.03); and androsterone sulfate (OR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.46-1.02; p-value: 0.06; FDR p-value: 0.10). There was no association between sex steroid hormones and AD among women, although analysis for estradiol had limited statistical power.

Discussion: A higher concentration of androgens was associated with a decreased risk of AD among men of European ancestry, suggesting that androgens among men might be neuroprotective and could potentially prevent or delay an AD diagnosis.

Highlights: Sex hormones are hypothesized to play a role in developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). The effect of sex hormones on AD was assessed using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Among women, genetically determined effects of sex hormones were limited or null. Among men, a higher concentration of androgens decreased AD risk. This study suggests a causal relationship between androgens and AD among men.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10509321PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/alz.13013DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

decrease alzheimer's
8
alzheimer's disease
8
disease risk
8
men androgens
4
androgens associated
4
associated decrease
4
risk introduction
4
introduction increased
4
increased levels
4
levels sex
4

Similar Publications

Shenghui decoction inhibits neuronal cell apoptosis to improve Alzheimer's disease through the PDE4B/cAMP/CREB signaling pathway.

Phytomedicine

January 2025

Collaborative Innovation Center of Prevention and Treatment of Major Diseases by Chinese and Western Medicine, Henan Province, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Research and Development on the whole Industry Chain of Yu-Yao, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan, China. Electronic address:

Background: Shenghui Decoction (SHD) is a frequently utilized traditional Chinese medicine formula in clinical settings for addressing cognitive impairment in elderly individuals. Nevertheless, the precise mechanism by which SHD exerts its effects on the most prevalent form of dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), remains to be elucidated.

Methods: Temperature-induced transgenic C.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Biomarkers.

Alzheimers Dement

December 2024

The Joseph Sagol Neuroscience Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.

Background: Amyloid beta (Aβ) deposition marks an early stage in the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD), detectable in-vivo years before symptoms emerge and targeted by recently FDA-approved drugs. This has propelled advancements in understanding, measuring, and treating AD, paving the way for disease prevention in those at risk. However, the psychological impact of disclosing Aβ status to cognitively unimpaired individuals remains underexplored.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) permits characterizing differences in white matter microstructure associated with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and Alzheimer's dementia (AD). However, most dMRI measures aggregate signals across multiple axonal fiber populations with varying spatial orientations, which limits the sensitivity and specificity of clinical diagnosis. To overcome this shortcoming, we estimated fiber density (FD) measures, independently from crossing fiber populations, and extracellular cerebral spinal fluid (CSF).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Biomarkers.

Alzheimers Dement

December 2024

NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.

Background: The choroid plexus (ChP) plays a vital role in CSF production and waste clearance. While existing imaging studies have established connections between ChP volume changes and age-related neurodegenerative diseases, a comprehensive investigation into the microstructural and vascular changes associated with aging remains insufficient. This study aims to explore ChP changes in normal aging using diffusion and perfusion MRI in the HCP-Aging dataset to enhance our understanding of age-related microstructural and vascular changes in the ChP.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Biomarkers.

Alzheimers Dement

December 2024

Certara SimCyp, Berwyn, PA, USA.

Background: With the approval of several anti-amyloid antibodies and a robust pipeline of new amyloid-based therapies, attention turns towards questions related to real-world clinical practice. Here we explore the impact of several biological pathways on the amyloid biomarker response of AD patients using a Quantitative Systems Pharmacology (QSP) approach with the ultimate objective to find measurable biomarkers for responder identification.

Method: Using a well-validated QSP biophysically realistic model of amyloid aggregation, we performed sensitivity analysis to identify key drivers of amyloid biomarkers both in a longitudinal observational context and after treatment with specific amyloid antibodies.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!