Genetic predisposition to high BP, cholesterol linked to Alzheimer’s: Study

People with a genetic predisposition toward high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels may be at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study. The study, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, included 39,106 people with clinically diagnosed Alzheimer’s and 401,577 people who did not have the disease. The team from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark found that people who had certain genes that caused high levels of a type of cholesterol called high-density lipoprotein, also known as HDL or “good” cholesterol, were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s. There was a slight possibility.

For each standard deviation increase in HDL cholesterol, the researchers found an increase in Alzheimer’s risk of about 10 percent. A similar increased risk was found for people with genes responsible for high systolic blood pressure. For every 10-millimeter of mercury (mm Hg) increase in systolic blood pressure, the risk of developing Alzheimer’s increased 1.22-fold.

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“This genetic association study found a novel genetic association between high HDL cholesterol concentrations and high systolic blood pressure with a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease,” said Ruth Frick-Schmidt, from the university’s department of medicine. These findings could lead to new drug targeting and improved prevention implementation. can inspire.” Clinical Biochemistry. The study, however, found no consistent evidence for genetic associations with other lipid traits, nor evidence that BMI, alcohol consumption, smoking or diabetes increased the odds of developing Alzheimer’s.

As most of the participants were of European descent, the study cannot be generalised. The study also did not show that genes predispose people to Alzheimer’s, the team said, stressing the need for further research.