People with a genetic mutation that increases the risk of dementia also have a greater chance of having severe Covid-19, researchers have revealed.
The study is the latest to suggest genetics may play a role in why some people are more vulnerable to the coronavirus than others, and could help explain why people with dementia have been hard hit: dementia is one of the most common underlying health conditions among those who have died from Covid-19 in England and Wales.
It is not just age: this is an example of a specific gene variant causing vulnerability in some people, said David Melzer, a professor of epidemiology and public health at Exeter University and a co-author of the study.
Writing in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, Melzer and colleagues report how they analysed data from the UK Biobank, a research endeavour that has collected genetic and health data on 500,000 volunteers aged between 48 and 86.
The team focused on a gene called ApoE this gives rise to proteins involved in carrying fats around the body, and can exist in several forms. One such variant, called e4, is known to affect cholesterol levels and processes involved in inflammation, as well as increasing the risk of heart disease and dementia.
The researchers found 9,022 of almost 383,000 Biobank participants of European ancestry studied had two copies of the e4 variant, while more than 223,000 had two copies of a variant called e3. The former, the team add, have a risk of dementia up to 14-fold higher than the latter.
The team then looked at positive tests for Covid-19 between 16 March and 26 April when testing for the coronavirus was largely carried out in hospitals, suggesting the cases were severe.
The results reveal 37 people who tested positive for Covid-19 had two copies of the e4 variant of ApoE, while 401 had two copies of the e3 variant. After taking into account various factors, including age and sex, the team say people with two e4 variants had more than double the risk of severe Covid-19 than those with two e3 variants.
Melzer said the findings were not down to people with two e4 variants being more likely to be living in a care home settings that have been hard hit by Covid-19 since the association remained even when the team excluded participants with a diagnosis of dementia. None of the Covid-19 positive participants with two e4 variants of the ApoE gene had a dementia diagnosis.
It is pretty bulletproof whatever associated disease we remove, the association is still there. So it looks as if it is the gene variant that is doing it This association is not driven by people who actually have dementia, said Melzer.
The team say further work is needed to unpick the link.
Prof Tara Spires-Jones, an expert in neurodegeneration at the University of Edinburgh who was not involved in the study, said the large number of Biobank participants meant the association between the ApoE genetic variants and Covid-19 risk was robust, but stressed the study did not prove the former caused the latter. Nevertheless, she said, the study was important.
It is possible that the role of ApoE in the immune system is important in the disease and future research may be able to harness this to develop effective treatments, she said.
Fiona Carragher, a director of research and influencing at Alzheimers Society, said people with dementia and their families were desperately worried, adding the government must take urgent action to protect people with dementia. But, she said, more research was needed to delve into the possible link between the e4 variant of ApoE and severe Covid-19.
Other factors may contribute, so it is difficult to draw firm conclusions at this stage. But clearly much more in-depth research is urgently needed to fully understand why people with dementia seem to be at a higher risk and to what extent factors like ethnicity and genetics might play a role, she said.
But Prof David Curtis, honorary professor at the UCL Genetics Institute, urged caution. He noted that among the studys limitations, diagnoses of dementia in recent years are unlikely to be captured, meaning that the link between the e4 variant and severe Covid-19 may still be driven by more people with two e4 variants having dementia than those with two e3 variants.
Im afraid this study does not really convince me that the ApoE e4 allele [gene variant] is really an independent risk factor for severe Covid-19 infection, he said. I would want to see this tested in a sample where dementia could be more confidently excluded, perhaps a younger cohort. I am sure additional data will soon emerge to illuminate this issue.
Go here to read the rest:
Research reveals gene role in both dementia and severe Covid-19 - The Guardian
- Mating Study Unlocks the Genetic Code of Attraction - Neuroscience News - March 18th, 2024
- Mindfulness in your DNA? Capacity to be present is partly a function of genetics, study finds - PsyPost - March 18th, 2024
- Genetic testing scam targets Medicare recipients, including those in Spokane - KXLY Spokane - March 18th, 2024
- Some people are genetically predisposed to gain weight. These 5 tips can help - CNN - March 18th, 2024
- SOPHiA GENETICS and The French Kidney Cancer Research Network (UroCCR) Publish Results from Multiyear ... - PR Newswire - March 18th, 2024
- Tissue samples show the deep genetic and cellular impacts of smoking - Medical Xpress - March 18th, 2024
- The regulatory landscape of chromatin accessibility - Nature.com - March 18th, 2024
- Genome assemblies of 11 bamboo species highlight diversification induced by dynamic subgenome dominance - Nature.com - March 18th, 2024
- Research reveals the genetic code behind non-identical twins - Medical Xpress - March 18th, 2024
- How genetic therapies transformed the lives of sickle cell patients - KPVI News 6 - March 18th, 2024
- The Next Wave of Privacy Litigation: The Illinois Genetic Information Privacy Act - Perkins Coie - March 18th, 2024
- State initiates study on genetic cancers, Lynch Syndrome - The Times of India - March 18th, 2024
- How genetic therapies transformed the lives of sickle cell patients - Citizentribune - March 18th, 2024
- Dr Plichta on Areas of Interest for Genetic Testing Research in Breast Cancer - OncLive - March 18th, 2024
- The Genetic History of the Jews Mosaic - Mosaic - March 18th, 2024
- New insights into genetic mechanisms could improve treatment of liver fibrosis - Medical Xpress - March 18th, 2024
- 5 Questions To Ask About The Ethics Of Genetic Data - Forbes - March 18th, 2024
- Couple raising money to fix sons club feet caused by rare genetic condition - 21 Alive News - February 18th, 2024
- What can bulls tell us about men? Genetic discovery could translate to human fertility research - Medical Xpress - February 18th, 2024
- Legislation seeks to bar life insurance companies from purchasing recreational genetic testing data - Delaware First Media - February 18th, 2024
- Family-based study identifies potential new genetic factors linked to Alzheimer's risk in people with African ancestry - National Institute on Aging - February 18th, 2024
- Genetic determinants of micronucleus formation in vivo - Nature.com - February 18th, 2024
- Near-gapless and haplotype-resolved apple genomes provide insights into the genetic basis of rootstock-induced ... - Nature.com - February 18th, 2024
- Accurate and sensitive mutational signature analysis with MuSiCal - Nature.com - February 18th, 2024
- CRISPR, the Genetic Revolution of the 21st Century | OpenMind - BBVA OpenMind - February 18th, 2024
- Genetic control of thermomorphogenesis in tomato inflorescences - Nature.com - February 18th, 2024
- Natural selection and genetic diversity maintenance in a parasitic wasp during continuous biological control application - Nature.com - February 18th, 2024
- Understanding how natural genetic variation contributes to adaptive responses to low oxygen - News-Medical.Net - February 18th, 2024
- Division of Epidemiology and Genetics - Epidemiology and Genetics - University of Southern California - February 18th, 2024
- Genetic study clarifies the link between birth weight and adult morbidity - Medical Xpress - February 18th, 2024
- AI and genetics underpin project to speed up CVD diagnosis and personalise treatment - Hospital Healthcare - February 18th, 2024
- Study Reveals Complex Interaction Between Genetics and Environment in Brain Functioning - Medriva - February 18th, 2024
- Unraveling the Impact of Genetics and Socioeconomic Status on Behavioral and Psychiatric Traits - Medriva - February 18th, 2024
- Genetic Investigation Reveals CETP Gene Variants Linked to Cardiovascular Resilience in Genome-Wide Association ... - Physician's Weekly - December 30th, 2023
- Raha Kapoor's blue eyes remind fans of her great-grandfather, Raj Kapoor; here's what genetics says - IndiaTimes - December 30th, 2023
- Genetic clue to pericarditis inflammation points to promising new treatments - News-Medical.Net - December 30th, 2023
- Certain genetic predispositions may increase risk of atrial fibrillation among those with high alcohol consumption - 2 Minute Medicine - December 30th, 2023
- Understanding the genetic basis of hereditary diffuse gastric cancer - News-Medical.Net - December 30th, 2023
- Genetic engineering was meant to save chestnut trees. Then there was a mistake. - The Washington Post - December 30th, 2023
- Unraveling the mystery of hereditary diffuse gastric cancer - EurekAlert - December 30th, 2023
- What is Genetics? | AMNH - American Museum of Natural History - December 22nd, 2023
- Who killed Shelley Connolly? Genetic genealogy leads authorities to a suspect and a conviction - Alaska's News Source - December 22nd, 2023
- C.S. Lewis, Atheism, and the Genetic Fallacy - Word on Fire - December 22nd, 2023
- FDA approves first genetic test to assess opioid addiction risk using DNA sample - Fox News - December 22nd, 2023
- Genetic blueprint of wild grapes could help breed better grapes - University of California, Davis - December 22nd, 2023
- Unlocking the genetic secrets of grape seedlessness - Phys.org - December 22nd, 2023
- Unlocking the genetic secrets of drought resilience in Persian walnuts - Phys.org - December 22nd, 2023
- FDA approves genetic test to assess patients risk of developing an opioid addiction - KXAN.com - December 22nd, 2023
- How researchers are CReATiNG synthetic chromosomes faster and cheaper - EurekAlert - December 22nd, 2023
- The promise of genetic therapies in sickle cell disease - The Lancet - December 22nd, 2023
- Assessment of genetic diversity, population structure and wolf-dog hybridisation in the Eastern Romanian Carpathian ... - Nature.com - December 22nd, 2023
- Genetics and Heart Disease: What you need to know - IndiaTimes - December 22nd, 2023
- How to become a geneticist - University of Sydney - December 22nd, 2023
- Study sheds light on the ancestry and genetics of Coast Salish woolly dogs | News | Vancouver Island University ... - Vancouver Island University News - December 22nd, 2023
- Human genetics | Description, Chromosomes, & Inheritance - December 13th, 2023
- BASIC GENETICS INFORMATION - Understanding Genetics - NCBI Bookshelf - December 13th, 2023
- Introduction to Genetics - Open Textbook Library - December 13th, 2023
- Clues to preventing Alzheimer's come from patient who, despite genetics, evaded disease Washington University ... - Washington University School of... - December 13th, 2023
- Environmental stress rather than genetics influenced height differences in early Neolithic people: Study - Phys.org - December 13th, 2023
- What is trisomy 18? Why the fatal genetic disorder is in the news and what it's like to get the diagnosis. - Yahoo Life - December 13th, 2023
- Spanish scientists identify the molecular mechanisms controlling the genes involved in proper formation of the heart ... - EurekAlert - December 13th, 2023
- GENEFIT, the First-Ever Fitness Technology to Integrate Personal Genetics with Wearable Tracker Data, Launches to ... - Fitt Insider - December 13th, 2023
- Genetic 'protection' against depression was no match for pandemic stress, finds study of first-year college students - Medical Xpress - December 13th, 2023
- Origin and evolution of the triploid cultivated banana genome - Nature.com - December 13th, 2023
- CellCharter reveals spatial cell niches associated with tissue remodeling and cell plasticity - Nature.com - December 13th, 2023
- How do we get our eye color? A genetics expert reveals the fascinating truth - Fox News - December 13th, 2023
- WVU Today | WVU scientists spice up genetic research through habanero peppers and AI - WVU Today - December 13th, 2023
- Genetic mutations that promote reproduction tend to shorten human lifespan, study shows - Phys.org - December 13th, 2023
- Stanford Scientists Discover Common Genetic Factor That Fends Off Alzheimer's and Parkinson's - SciTechDaily - December 13th, 2023
- Association of genetic risk and lifestyle with pancreatic cancer and their age dependency: a large prospective cohort ... - BMC Medicine - December 13th, 2023
- New bill would block American genetic data from access by companies tied to foreign adversaries - Homeland Preparedness News - December 13th, 2023
- Electric Eels Shocking Ability To Alter The Genetics Of Nearby Animals - Forbes - December 13th, 2023
- "When them genetics kick in its all over" - NBA fans send in rib-tickling reactions as LeBron James attends Zhuri James' volleyball game -... - October 16th, 2023
- David Liu, chemist: We now have the technology to correct misspellings in our DNA that cause known genetic diseases - EL PAS USA - April 7th, 2023
- World Health Day 2023: Understanding the science of Epi-genetics and how to apply it in our daily lives - Free Press Journal - April 7th, 2023
- Genetics - National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) - March 29th, 2023
- GENETICS 101 - Understanding Genetics - NCBI Bookshelf - March 29th, 2023
- People always think Im skinny because of good genetics theyre shocked when they see what I used to lo... - The US Sun - March 29th, 2023
- Forensics expert explains 'genetic genealogy' process believed to be used in Kohberger's arrest - KTVB.com - January 6th, 2023
- Idaho student murders: What is genetic genealogy, a tool reportedly used to help capture the suspect? - FOX 10 News Phoenix - January 6th, 2023