Lifestyle and poststroke recovery: A 2-sample Mendelian randomization analysis

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Genetics
• Public Health

Background:

• Stroke is a major global cause of disability and death.
• Modifiable lifestyle factors may impact poststroke recovery, but observational studies face limitations like confounding.
• Mendelian randomization (MR) offers a robust method to explore causal links between lifestyle and health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the causal associations between 12 lifestyle-related exposures and stroke recovery outcomes using a 2-sample Mendelian randomization analysis.
• To differentiate between potentially harmful and beneficial lifestyle factors for stroke recovery.
• To provide genetic evidence to support personalized stroke rehabilitation strategies.

Main Methods:

• A 2-sample Mendelian randomization analysis was performed.
• Genetic instruments for 12 lifestyle exposures were obtained from large consortia (MRC-IEU).
• Stroke recovery outcome data were from the GISCOME consortium; analyses included inverse variance weighted (IVW), weighted median, and sensitivity analyses (MR-Egger, MR-PRESSO).

Main Results:

• Sedentary behavior, high body mass index, smoking, psychological distress, and insomnia were negatively associated with stroke recovery.
• Moderate-intensity physical activity and a low-calorie diet showed significant beneficial associations with recovery.
• No significant associations were found for low/high-intensity activity, alcohol abstinence, coffee intake, or household income.

Conclusions:

• This MR study provides strong genetic evidence that specific lifestyle factors causally influence stroke recovery.
• Sedentary behavior, obesity, smoking, psychological distress, and insomnia are detrimental to recovery.
• Moderate physical activity and caloric restriction are potentially beneficial interventions for improving stroke recovery outcomes.