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- de Rojas, I., et al.
(author)
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Common variants in Alzheimer’s disease and risk stratification by polygenic risk scores
- 2021
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In: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 12:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Genetic discoveries of Alzheimer’s disease are the drivers of our understanding, and together with polygenetic risk stratification can contribute towards planning of feasible and efficient preventive and curative clinical trials. We first perform a large genetic association study by merging all available case-control datasets and by-proxy study results (discovery n = 409,435 and validation size n = 58,190). Here, we add six variants associated with Alzheimer’s disease risk (near APP, CHRNE, PRKD3/NDUFAF7, PLCG2 and two exonic variants in the SHARPIN gene). Assessment of the polygenic risk score and stratifying by APOE reveal a 4 to 5.5 years difference in median age at onset of Alzheimer’s disease patients in APOE ɛ4 carriers. Because of this study, the underlying mechanisms of APP can be studied to refine the amyloid cascade and the polygenic risk score provides a tool to select individuals at high risk of Alzheimer’s disease. © 2021, The Author(s).
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- Bellenguez, C, et al.
(author)
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New insights into the genetic etiology of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias
- 2022
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In: Nature genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1546-1718 .- 1061-4036. ; 54:4, s. 412-436
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Characterization of the genetic landscape of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias (ADD) provides a unique opportunity for a better understanding of the associated pathophysiological processes. We performed a two-stage genome-wide association study totaling 111,326 clinically diagnosed/‘proxy’ AD cases and 677,663 controls. We found 75 risk loci, of which 42 were new at the time of analysis. Pathway enrichment analyses confirmed the involvement of amyloid/tau pathways and highlighted microglia implication. Gene prioritization in the new loci identified 31 genes that were suggestive of new genetically associated processes, including the tumor necrosis factor alpha pathway through the linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex. We also built a new genetic risk score associated with the risk of future AD/dementia or progression from mild cognitive impairment to AD/dementia. The improvement in prediction led to a 1.6- to 1.9-fold increase in AD risk from the lowest to the highest decile, in addition to effects of age and the APOE ε4 allele.
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- Jansen, I. E., et al.
(author)
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Genome-wide meta-analysis identifies new loci and functional pathways influencing Alzheimer’s disease risk
- 2019
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In: Nature Genetics. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 1061-4036 .- 1546-1718. ; 51:3, s. 404-413
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is highly heritable and recent studies have identified over 20 disease-associated genomic loci. Yet these only explain a small proportion of the genetic variance, indicating that undiscovered loci remain. Here, we performed a large genome-wide association study of clinically diagnosed AD and AD-by-proxy (71,880 cases, 383,378 controls). AD-by-proxy, based on parental diagnoses, showed strong genetic correlation with AD (rg = 0.81). Meta-analysis identified 29 risk loci, implicating 215 potential causative genes. Associated genes are strongly expressed in immune-related tissues and cell types (spleen, liver, and microglia). Gene-set analyses indicate biological mechanisms involved in lipid-related processes and degradation of amyloid precursor proteins. We show strong genetic correlations with multiple health-related outcomes, and Mendelian randomization results suggest a protective effect of cognitive ability on AD risk. These results are a step forward in identifying the genetic factors that contribute to AD risk and add novel insights into the neurobiology of AD.
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- Wightman, D. P., et al.
(author)
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A genome-wide association study with 1,126,563 individuals identifies new risk loci for Alzheimer’s disease
- 2021
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In: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Nature. - 1061-4036 .- 1546-1718. ; 53:9, s. 1276-1282
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Late-onset Alzheimer’s disease is a prevalent age-related polygenic disease that accounts for 50–70% of dementia cases. Currently, only a fraction of the genetic variants underlying Alzheimer’s disease have been identified. Here we show that increased sample sizes allowed identification of seven previously unidentified genetic loci contributing to Alzheimer’s disease. This study highlights microglia, immune cells and protein catabolism as relevant to late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, while identifying and prioritizing previously unidentified genes of potential interest. We anticipate that these results can be included in larger meta-analyses of Alzheimer’s disease to identify further genetic variants that contribute to Alzheimer’s pathology.
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- Creese, B, et al.
(author)
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Examining the association between genetic liability for schizophrenia and psychotic symptoms in Alzheimer's disease
- 2019
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In: Translational psychiatry. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2158-3188. ; 9:1, s. 273-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Psychosis (delusions or hallucinations) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD + P) occurs in up to 50% of individuals and is associated with significantly worse clinical outcomes. Atypical antipsychotics, first developed for schizophrenia, are commonly used in AD + P, suggesting shared mechanisms. Despite this implication, little empirical research has been conducted to examine whether there are mechanistic similarities between AD + P and schizophrenia. In this study, we tested whether polygenic risk score (PRS) for schizophrenia was associated with AD + P. Schizophrenia PRS was calculated using Psychiatric Genomics Consortium data at ten GWAS p value thresholds (PT) in 3111 AD cases from 11 cohort studies characterized for psychosis using validated, standardized tools. Association between PRS and AD + P status was tested by logistic regression in each cohort individually and the results meta-analyzed. The schizophrenia PRS was associated with AD + P at an optimum PT of 0.01. The strongest association was for delusions where a one standard deviation increase in PRS was associated with a 1.18-fold increased risk (95% CI: 1.06–1.3; p = 0.001). These new findings point towards psychosis in AD—and particularly delusions—sharing some genetic liability with schizophrenia and support a transdiagnostic view of psychotic symptoms across the lifespan.
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- Henjum, K., et al.
(author)
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Cerebrospinal fluid catecholamines in Alzheimer's disease patients with and without biological disease
- 2022
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In: Translational Psychiatry. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2158-3188. ; 12:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Noradrenergic and dopaminergic neurons are involved in cognitive functions, relate to behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia and are affected in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Amyloid plaques (A), neurofibrillary tangles (T) and neurodegeneration (N) hallmarks the AD neuropathology. Today, the AT(N) pathophysiology can be assessed through biomarkers. Previous studies report cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) catecholamine concentrations in AD patients without biomarker refinement. We explored if CSF catecholamines relate to AD clinical presentation or neuropathology as reflected by CSF biomarkers. CSF catecholamines were analyzed in AD patients at the mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n = 54) or dementia stage (n = 240) and in cognitively unimpaired (n = 113). CSF biomarkers determined AT status and indicated synaptic damage (neurogranin). The AD patients (n = 294) had higher CSF noradrenaline and adrenaline concentrations, but lower dopamine concentrations compared to the cognitively unimpaired (n = 113). AD patients in the MCI and dementia stage of the disease had similar CSF catecholamine concentrations. In the CSF neurogranin positively associated with noradrenaline and adrenaline but not with dopamine. Adjusted regression analyses including AT status, CSF neurogranin, age, gender, and APOE epsilon 4 status verified the findings. In restricted analyses comparing A+T+ patients to A-T- cognitively unimpaired, the findings for CSF adrenaline remained significant (p < 0.001) but not for CSF noradrenaline (p = 0.07) and CSF dopamine (p = 0.33). There were no differences between A+T+ and A-T- cognitively unimpaired. Thus, we find alterations in CSF catecholamines in symptomatic AD and the CSF adrenergic transmitters to increase simultaneously with synaptic damage as indexed by CSF neurogranin.
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- Jordhoy, MS, et al.
(author)
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Which cancer patients die in nursing homes? Quality of life, medical and sociodemographic characteristics
- 2003
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In: Palliative Medicine. - : SAGE Publications. - 1477-030X .- 0269-2163. ; 17:5, s. 433-444
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this study, cancer patients' characteristics associated with death in nursing homes were explored. The study sample included 395 cancer patients who had participated in a trial of palliative care, 260 ( 66%) patients died in hospital, 80 (20%) at home and 55 (14%) in nursing homes. Health-related quality of life was prospectively recorded using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. Death in nursing home was associated with greater age, not living with spouse and poor performance status. Patients dying in nursing homes reported severe functioning impairments and more fatigue and appetite loss compared with those dying elsewhere. The association between death in nursing homes and poor physical, role, cognitive and social functioning remained significant when sociodemographic and medical differences were taken into account. Further research on frail elderly cancer patients is warranted to improve their care, to evaluate the appropriateness of nursing home placement and for future planning of palliative care services.
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- Persson, K, et al.
(author)
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Visual Evaluation of Medial Temporal Lobe Atrophy as a Clinical Marker of Conversion from Mild Cognitive Impairment to Dementia and for Predicting Progression in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Mild Alzheimer's Disease
- 2017
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In: Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders. - : S. Karger AG. - 1421-9824 .- 1420-8008. ; 44:1-2, s. 12-24
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- <b><i>Background/Aims:</i></b> To evaluate whether visual assessment of medial temporal lobe atrophy (vaMTA) can predict 2-year conversion from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to dementia and progression of MCI and Alzheimer's disease dementia as measured by the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale Sum of Boxes score (CDR-SB). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> vaMTA was performed in 94 patients with MCI according to the Winblad criteria and in 124 patients with AD according to ICD-10 and NINCDS-ADRDA criteria. Demographic data, the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease 10-word delayed recall, APOE ɛ4 status, Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia, and comorbid hypertension were used as covariates. <b><i>Results:</i></b> vaMTA was associated with MCI conversion in an unadjusted model but not in an adjusted model (<i>p</i> = 0.075), where delayed recall and APOE ɛ4 status were significant predictors. With CDR-SB change as the outcome, an interaction between vaMTA and diagnosis was found, but in the adjusted model only delayed recall and age were significant predictors. For vaMTA below 2, the association between vaMTA and CDR-SB change differed between diagnostic groups. Similar results were found based on a trajectory analysis. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> In adjusted models, memory function, APOE ɛ4 status and age were significant predictors of disease progression, not vaMTA. The association between vaMTA and CDR-SB change was different in patients with MCI and Alzheimer's disease dementia.
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- Witoelar, A, et al.
(author)
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Meta-analysis of Alzheimer's disease on 9,751 samples from Norway and IGAP study identifies four risk loci
- 2018
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In: Scientific reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 8:1, s. 18088-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A large fraction of genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is still not identified, limiting the understanding of AD pathology and study of therapeutic targets. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of AD cases and controls of European descent from the multi-center DemGene network across Norway and two independent European cohorts. In a two-stage process, we first performed a meta-analysis using GWAS results from 2,893 AD cases and 6,858 cognitively normal controls from Norway and 25,580 cases and 48,466 controls from the International Genomics of Alzheimer’s Project (IGAP), denoted the discovery sample. Second, we selected the top hits (p < 1 × 10−6) from the discovery analysis for replication in an Icelandic cohort consisting of 5,341 cases and 110,008 controls. We identified a novel genomic region with genome-wide significant association with AD on chromosome 4 (combined analysis OR = 1.07, p = 2.48 x 10-8). This finding implicated HS3ST1, a gene expressed throughout the brain particularly in the cerebellar cortex. In addition, we identified IGHV1-68 in the discovery sample, previously not associated with AD. We also associated USP6NL/ECHDC3 and BZRAP1-AS1 to AD, confirming findings from a follow-up transethnic study. These new gene loci provide further evidence for AD as a polygenic disorder, and suggest new mechanistic pathways that warrant further investigation.
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