Study links genetic predisposition for high BP, cholesterol to Alzheimer’s

London, May 19 : People with genetic tendency toward higher levels of hypertension and cholesterol could be at a potential risk of developing Alzheimers disease, according to a new study.

The study, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, included 39,106 people with clinically diagnosed Alzheimers and 401,577 controls who did not have the disease.

The team from Copenhagen University in Denmark found that people who had certain genes that led to higher levels of a type of cholesterol called high-density lipoprotein, also known as HDL or "good" cholesterol, had a slightly higher chance of developing Alzheimers.For every standard deviation increase in HDL cholesterol, the researchers found about 10 per cent increase in the risk of Alzheimers.

A similar increased risk was found for people with the genes responsible for higher systolic blood pressure.For every 10 millimetres of mercury (mm Hg) increase in systolic blood pressure, the risk of developing Alzheimers increased 1.22 times."This genetic association study found novel genetic associations between high HDL cholesterol concentrations and high systolic blood pressure with higher risk of Alzheimers disease.

These findings may inspire new drug targeting and improved prevention implementation," Ruth Frikke-Schmidt, from the varsitys Department of Clinical Biochemistry.The study, however, did not find any consistent evidence for genetic associations with other lipid traits, nor did it find evidence that BMI, alcohol consumption, smoking or diabetes increased the odds of developing Alzheimers.

As the participants were majorly of European descent, the study cannot be generalised.The study also did not show that genes predetermine people to Alzheimers, said the team, stressing the need for further research.

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