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Certain genetic predispositions to high blood pressure and cholesterol are associated with a potentially increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. new research find.
The exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is unknown, and although there are drugs that slow the progression of the disease, there is no cure yet.
Scientists have been racing to better understand Alzheimer’s disease in order to find ways to prevent or treat it.
Understanding does not come quickly. More than 6 million Americans now suffer from the condition, Alzheimer’s Society That number is expected to more than double by 2050, costing the country $1 trillion.. Women and black or Hispanic people are disproportionately affected by the disease.
The researchers in the study, published Wednesday in JAMA Network Open, sought to understand modifiable risk factors that might prevent the development of Alzheimer’s disease. They also hoped to help guide drug development.
They analyzed data from the European Alzheimer’s & Dementia Biobank, which collected the DNA records of people with and without Alzheimer’s disease in 11 European countries. Genetic factors account for up to 70% of the risk attributed to common Alzheimer’s disease. biobank says:
The new study included 39,106 people with clinically diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease and 401,577 controls without Alzheimer’s disease.
When the researchers compared the genes for each, they found that people with a particular gene that raises levels of a type of cholesterol called high-density lipoproteins (also called HDL or “good” cholesterol) are more likely to develop cholesterol. found to be slightly higher. Alzheimer’s disease. They found a similar increased risk in people with genes associated with elevated systolic blood pressure.
The increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease increased by approximately 10% for each standard deviation increase in HDL cholesterol. And for every 10 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) increase in systolic blood pressure, the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease increases 1.22 times.
The study found no consistent evidence of a genetic association with other lipid traits, nor did it find evidence that BMI, alcohol consumption, smoking, or diabetes increase the odds of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Other research Focusing solely on lifestyle factors such as obesity, alcohol, smoking, and diabetes, rather than the genetic risk of these factors, has shown an association between them and a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
The researchers said that while it was a large study, most of the participants were of European descent, and others may have different genetic predispositions for Alzheimer’s disease, so the study could be used worldwide. It is important to note that it cannot be generalized to other countries. The study also does not show that genes predetermine who will get Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists say more research needs to be done.
The researchers can’t pinpoint why this association is a risk, but they have some ideas.
For people with a genetic predisposition to high HDL, balance may be key. HDL is sometimes called “good” cholesterol because it helps rid the body of “bad” cholesterol, or LDL, which clogs arteries and makes it difficult for blood and oxygen to reach the heart.
In heart health, high HDL helps prevent strokes and heart attacks. However, in brain health, high HDL can lead to an imbalance of certain types of proteins, which scientists suspect are involved in the development of dementia.
Other studies have shown that high blood pressure in middle age may be a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, but research on the effects of high blood pressure later in life is limited.
Dr. Sudha Seshadri, director of UT Health San Antonio’s Glenn Biggs Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases Institute, said people should keep in mind that this is just one study. .
“Overall, I think there is some support for the fact that lowering blood pressure can be good. said Seshadri, who was not involved in the study.
She said it could be something as simple as higher HDL protecting people from heart attacks and strokes and helping them live longer, and that aging is a factor in dementia.
“The study needs to be replicated and better understood. It’s certainly interesting, but it’s just part of the information,” Seshadri said.
Rebecca M. Edelmeyer, Ph.D., senior director of scientific efforts at the Alzheimer’s Association, said studies like this are a great building block for understanding how the disease works.
This is because researchers are realizing that cognitive decline and dementia are probably due not only to family history and genetics, but also to modifiable risk factors such as diet, heart health and exercise. She said it’s an exciting time in the field.
“As described in the paper, we aim to target modifiable risk factors and understand how to unravel what is associated with genetic factors and modifiable risks, which will lead to global We believe it may be possible to prevent or delay the majority of people with dementia.” Edelmeyer said he was not involved in the new research.
It will be helpful if the number of people increases enrolled in a clinical trial This will give scientists a better understanding of what causes Alzheimer’s disease.
Edelmeyer believes that in the future, treating Alzheimer’s disease and potentially other dementias will require not only intensive therapies but also combination approaches to address modifiable risk factors.
One strong area to target is heart health.
“I think the current population-level evidence suggests that focusing specifically on cardiovascular risk factors can reduce the risk of cognitive decline and possibly dementia,” Edelmeyer said. .
A healthy diet, regular exercise, quitting smoking, heart health and managing diabetes can all help.
“What’s good for the heart is good for the brain,” she says.
