The Same Gene Is Associated With Obesity And Dementia

The Same Gene Is Associated With Obesity And Dementia.
A distinct of the obesity-related gene FTO may improve the risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia, finds a different Swedish study. Previous research has shown that the FTO gene affects body group index (BMI), levels of leptin (a hormone involved in appetite and metabolism), and the chance for diabetes. All vascular risk factors that have also been linked with the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

This restored study, conducted by the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, included more than 1000 Swedish people, superannuated 75 and older, who were followed for nine years. They all underwent genetic testing at the start of the study.

Participants who carried an AA gene deviating in the FTO gene had a 58 percent increased endanger of developing Alzheimer's and a 48 percent increased risk for dementia, compared to those without the variant. The researchers also said the jeopardize could be 100 percent higher for a person with the FTO-AA variant and a gene deviant called APOE4, which is the highest-risk variant of the known Alzheimer's-related gene called APOE.

So "One of the intriguing aspects of the results is that the increased danger was independent of the traits previously associated with FTO, such as weight and diabetes measured at baseline," wrote Dr Caroline Graff and colleagues at the Karolinska Institute, in a rumour release. "Our results suggest that the mechanism by which FTO is associated with an increased jeopardy for Alzheimer's and dementia may be different from how it increases the risk for obesity".

The study was slated to be presented July 12 at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease. "This is a fascinating antique finding, which fits with the known connections between mettle health and brain health," Maria Carrillo, superior director of medical and scientific relations at the Alzheimer's Association, said in an bond news release wisconsin. "However, we do need to see these results confirmed by other researchers".