A two-sample Mendelian randomization study of atherosclerosis and dementia
Qiaoyun Zhang1,2, Guangheng Wu2, Xiaoyu Zhang3
1Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Iscience
|November 29, 2023
Summary
Atherosclerosis indicators like peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and coronary atherosclerosis (CoAS) may reduce dementia risk. Further research is needed to confirm these findings for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
Background:
- The relationship between atherosclerosis and dementia risk is not fully understood.
- Investigating shared etiological factors is crucial for understanding dementia pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential causal effect of atherosclerosis-related indicators on the risk of dementia.
- To utilize Mendelian randomization (MR) to assess genetic associations between atherosclerosis and dementia.
Main Methods:
- Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics.
- Inverse variance weighted (IVW) method as the primary analytical approach.
- Sensitivity analyses were conducted to ensure the robustness of the findings.
Main Results:
- Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) showed a suggestive inverse association with Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk (OR: 0.864).
- Coronary atherosclerosis (CoAS) was suggestively inversely associated with AD risk (OR: 0.927).
- Atherosclerosis excluding cerebral, coronary, and PAD (ATHSCLE) was suggestively inversely associated with AD and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) risk (OR: 0.812).
Conclusions:
- PAD, CoAS, and ATHSCLE may be inversely associated with the risk of AD.
- ATHSCLE might also have a reverse effect on the risk of FTD.
- These suggestive findings warrant further investigation in larger, diverse populations.
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