Background And Objectives: Observational studies have demonstrated a significant association between socio-economic status (SES) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Nonetheless, the precise biological mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. Therefore, we adopted a Mendelian Randomization (MR) approach to investigate the causal relationship between SES and genetic susceptibility to AD, as well as to explore the potential mediation effects of inflammation.
Methods: Large-scale cohorts based on publicly available genome-wide association study (GWAS) datasets from European populations were employed for conducting the MR study. The primary criterion utilized was the inverse-variance weighting (IVW) model. Heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy were assessed. In addition, multivariate MR (MVMR) was utilized to correct the confounders. Moreover, a two-step MR approach was used to evaluate the potential mediating effects of factors on the causal effects between SES and AD.
Results: As indicated by the results of the IVW model, educational years (OR = 0.708, 95% CI 0.610-0.821, P < 0.001) and household income (OR = 0.746, 95% CI 0.566-0.982, P = 0.037) was associated with a decreased genetic susceptibility risk for AD. The univariable results showed that the causal effect of educational years on the lower risk of AD remained significant (OR = 0.643, 95% CI 0.467-0.886, P = 0.006). In addition, our findings indicated that C-reactive protein (CRP) played a role in the causal effect of educational years on AD. The proportions of mediation were - 50.08% (95% CI - 92.78; - 7.38%).
Discussion: These findings provided evidence supporting the causal effect of educational attainment lower AD risk, with inflammation playing a mediating role. These findings may inform prevention strategies and interventions directed toward AD. Future studies should explore other plausible biological mechanisms.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00415-023-12176-1 | DOI Listing |
Alzheimers Dement
December 2024
GSK R&D, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.
Background: Genetic variants in GRN, the gene encoding progranulin, are causal for or are associated with the risk of multiple neurodegenerative diseases. Modulating progranulin has been considered as a therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases including Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Here, we integrated genetics with proteomic data to determine the causal human evidence for the therapeutic benefit of modulating progranulin in AD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlzheimers Dement
December 2024
University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Background: Pharmacoepidemiologic studies assessing drug effectiveness for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) are increasingly popular given the critical need for effective therapies for ADRD. To meet the urgent need for robust dementia ascertainment from real-world data, we aimed to develop a novel algorithm for identifying incident and prevalent dementia in claims.
Method: We developed algorithm candidates by different timing/frequency of dementia diagnosis/treatment to identify dementia from inpatient/outpatient/prescription claims for 6,515 and 3,997 participants from Visits 5 (2011-2013; mean age 75.
Background: The autophagy lysosomal pathway (ALP) and the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) are key proteostasis mechanisms in cells, which are dysfunctional in AD and linked to protein aggregation and neuronal death. Autophagy is over activated in Alzheimer's disease brain whereas UPS is severely impaired. Activating autophagy has received most attention, however recent evidence suggests that UPS can clear aggregate proteins and a potential therapeutic target for AD and protein misfolding diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Availability of amyloid modifying therapies will dramatically increase the need for disclosure of Alzheimer's disease (AD) related genetic and/or biomarker test results. The 21st Century Cares Act requires the immediate return of most medical test results, including AD biomarkers. A shortage of genetic counselors and dementia specialists already exists, thus driving the need for scalable methods to responsibly communicate test results.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlzheimers Dement
December 2024
University of Kentucky Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, Lexington, KY, USA.
Background: The presence of multiple comorbid pathologic features in late-onset dementia has been well documented across cohort studies that incorporate autopsy evaluation. It is likely that such mixed pathology potentially confounds the results of interventional trials that are designed to target a solitary pathophysiologic mechanism in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD).
Method: The UK ADRC autopsy database was screened for participants who had previously engaged in therapeutic interventional trials for Alzheimer's disease, vascular cognitive impairment, dementia, and/or ADRD prevention trials from 2005 to the present.
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