A new study has identified genes that may be linked to heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting the two may have similar origins.
Researchers said evidence is increasingly linking people with heart disease to a 26 percent increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia, which affects a person’s memory and thinking and hinders daily activities. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia.
Coronary artery disease is a condition in which blood flow to the heart is restricted due to narrowing of the blood vessels.
Although abnormal blood fat levels and inflammation may be potential shared risk factors between the development of coronary artery disease and Alzheimer’s disease, the researchers from Edith Cowan University in Australia said the mechanisms behind this link are still unclear.
In this study, they used genetic methods to examine the complex relationship between heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
The team looked at seven factors related to heart disease, such as coronary artery disease and angina, and 13 lipids, including cholesterol – both ‘good’ and ‘bad’. They said previous studies have long suggested that lipids play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
“Our comprehensive analysis reveals a significant and positive global genetic correlation between Alzheimer’s disease and three lipid traits: LDL (‘bad’ cholesterol), triglycerides, and total cholesterol,” the authors wrote in the study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
He said this suggests that some, but not all, lipids may have a more direct genetic link with Alzheimer’s disease.
However, several of the lipids studied by the authors were genetically associated with coronary artery disease.
“In particular, we found significant genetic correlations between coronary artery disease characteristics and lipid profiles such as HDL, LDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol, which is consistent with existing literature that underscores genetic interplay among cardiovascular risk factors,” they wrote.
“By applying genetic approaches to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between Alzheimer’s disease and coronary artery disease, we have uncovered new insights into the underlying mechanisms linking these conditions,” said corresponding author Emmanuel Adewuyi of Edith Cowan University.
