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Generalized Psychophysiological Interaction (PPI) Analysis of Memory Related Connectivity in Individuals at Genetic Risk for Alzheimer's Disease
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Cardiovascular Disease Subtypes and Alzheimer's Disease: Phenotypic and Genetic Associations in the UK Biobank and

Aili Toyli1, Chen Zhao2, Kuan-Jui Su3

  • 1Department of Mathematical Sciences Michigan Technological University Houghton MI USA.

Journal of the American Heart Association
|June 10, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) subtypes, particularly hypotension, are linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study highlights shared genetic factors and the importance of vascular health in cognitive decline.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cardiology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are significant public health issues with shared risk factors.
  • The precise relationship between AD and specific CVD subtypes requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the associations between AD and 11 CVD subtypes using large biobank data.
  • To explore the genetic overlap between AD and CVD traits.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional analysis of 2 large biobanks (UK Biobank and All of Us).
  • Logistic regression models adjusted for covariates.
  • Proximity-based analysis of significant single nucleotide variants from GWAS data.

Main Results:

  • Most CVD subtypes showed significant associations with AD.
  • Hypotension demonstrated the strongest and most consistent association with AD.
  • Hypertension, cerebral infarction, and shared genetic loci near APOE and MAPT were also identified.

Conclusions:

  • Subtype-specific CVD associations with AD were identified across diverse populations.
  • Shared genetic architecture underlies heart-brain interactions.
  • Vascular health is crucial for AD risk, with underrecognized roles for certain CVD subtypes like hypotension.
Abstract

Keywords:
Alzheimer's diseasecardiovascular diseasecerebral infarctionheart–brain axishypotension

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