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India.com
8 hours ago
- Health
- India.com
Study Finds Genetic Variant That Doubles Dementia Risk In Men: What You Need To Know
New Delhi: Australian researchers have identified a common genetic variant that doubles the risk of dementia in men. The team from Curtin University said that one in three people carry one copy of the variant, known as H63D, while one in 36 carry two copies. The research, published in the journal Neurology, found that men who carry a double H63D variant are twice as likely to develop dementia in their lifetime compared to women. The study, based on 19,114 healthy older people in Australia and the US, investigated whether people who had variants in the hemochromatosis (HFE) gene, which is critical for regulating iron levels in the body, might be at increased risk of dementia. "Having just one copy of this gene variant does not impact someone's health or increase their risk of dementia. However, having two copies of the variant more than doubled the risk of dementia in men, but not women," said Professor John Olynyk, from the Curtin Medical School. "While the genetic variant itself cannot be changed, the brain pathways which it affects -- leading to the damage that causes dementia -- could potentially be treated if we understood more about it," Olynyk added. Professor Olynyk said further research was needed to investigate why this genetic variant increased the risk of dementia for males but not females. "The HFE gene is routinely tested for in most Western countries, including Australia, when assessing people for hemochromatosis -- a disorder that causes the body to absorb too much iron. Our findings suggest that perhaps this testing could be offered to men more broadly," Olynyk said. While the HFE gene is critical for controlling iron levels in the body, the team found no direct link between iron levels in the blood and increased dementia risk in affected men. "This points to other mechanisms at play, possibly involving the increased risk of brain injury from inflammation and cell damage in the body," Olynyk said. The findings could help improve outcomes for people at risk of developing dementia and pave the way for more personalised approaches to prevention and treatment, especially for men with the double H63D variant.
Hans India
14 hours ago
- Health
- Hans India
Study finds common gene variant that doubles dementia risk for men
Australian researchers have identified a common genetic variant that doubles the risk of dementia in men. The team from Curtin University said that one in three people carry one copy of the variant, known as H63D, while one in 36 carry two copies. The research, published in the journal Neurology, found that men who carry a double H63D variant are twice as likely to develop dementia in their lifetime compared to women. The study, based on 19,114 healthy older people in Australia and the US, investigated whether people who had variants in the hemochromatosis (HFE) gene, which is critical for regulating iron levels in the body, might be at increased risk of dementia. "Having just one copy of this gene variant does not impact someone's health or increase their risk of dementia. However, having two copies of the variant more than doubled the risk of dementia in men, but not women," said Professor John Olynyk, from the Curtin Medical School. "While the genetic variant itself cannot be changed, the brain pathways which it affects -- leading to the damage that causes dementia -- could potentially be treated if we understood more about it," Olynyk added. Professor Olynyk said further research was needed to investigate why this genetic variant increased the risk of dementia for males but not females. "The HFE gene is routinely tested for in most Western countries, including Australia, when assessing people for hemochromatosis -- a disorder that causes the body to absorb too much iron. Our findings suggest that perhaps this testing could be offered to men more broadly," Olynyk said. While the HFE gene is critical for controlling iron levels in the body, the team found no direct link between iron levels in the blood and increased dementia risk in affected men. "This points to other mechanisms at play, possibly involving the increased risk of brain injury from inflammation and cell damage in the body," Olynyk said. The findings could help improve outcomes for people at risk of developing dementia and pave the way for more personalised approaches to prevention and treatment, especially for men with the double H63D variant.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
UT Health San Antonio researchers discover new links between heart disease and dementia
Research led by The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) has discovered new associations between various lipid, or fat, levels in the blood and the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. SAN ANTONIO, May 30, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- People who are at higher risk for heart disease also seem more likely to develop dementia. And research led by The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) has discovered new associations between various lipid, or fat, levels in the blood and the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, the most common cause of dementia worldwide. The findings mean that using blood lipid profiles could help better understand, predict and possibly even prevent the disease in the future. In more than 800 older adults who were part of the long-running Framingham Heart Study, the researchers found that higher levels of small dense cholesterol particles – which are known to increase the risk of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease – were associated with higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. However, higher levels of a marker for small fat-carrying particles, which are involved in the transport of dietary fats from the gut to other body tissues through the blood after eating, were associated with lower risk of developing the disease. Perhaps ironically, the researchers also discovered that individuals who had the lowest levels of highly dense cholesterol particles – often referred to as "good cholesterol" as it is considered protective against cardiovascular disease – had a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease compared to the rest of the included individuals. "These findings highlight the complex relationships of blood lipids with both heart and brain health, suggesting the possibility of certain blood lipids playing different roles in cardiovascular disease and dementia-related biological processes," said Sokratis Charisis, MD, a researcher with the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases at UT Health San Antonio. Charisis is first author of the study published May 30 in the journal Neurology, titled, "Association of Blood Lipoprotein Levels With Incident Alzheimer's Disease in Community-Dwelling Individuals: The Framingham Heart Study." Other authors include corresponding author Sudha Seshadri, MD, director of the Biggs Institute, and researchers from Boston University School of Public Health, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and the Framingham Heart Study. A community-based analysis The new study notes that dementia is a leading source of morbidity and mortality in the aging population. Worldwide, there were 57.4 million people living with dementia in 2019, a number that is expected to reach 152.8 million by 2050. However, there is a general trend over time of decreasing incidence of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias in the U.S. and other higher-income countries that is at least partially attributed to better management of cardiovascular risk factors. The Framingham Heart Study is an ongoing, community-based cohort study that was launched in 1948 in Framingham, Massachusetts. Residents there ages 30 to 59 were randomly selected from census data to participate. Those with definite signs of cardiovascular disease at baseline were excluded. Participants of the original cohort have undergone up to 32 examinations performed every two years, which have included detailed history-taking by a physician, a physical examination and lab testing. The latest analysis by researchers led by UT Health San Antonio included participants from the original cohort who were 60 years or older and free of dementia during an examination period of 1985-1988, and had available cognitive follow-up and lipoprotein marker data. Lipoproteins act as a transport system for lipids in the bloodstream. Blood lipid levels and dementia Levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), or good cholesterol; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), or "bad cholesterol"; small dense LDL-C (sdLDL-C); and other lipoprotein types associated with heart disease were measured in blood samples obtained from the mid- to late-'80s examination period. The Framingham participants were watched for incident Alzheimer's disease, meaning a first diagnosis of the disease, until 2020. Of a total of 822 participants, 128 developed incident Alzheimer's disease. The researchers discovered that an increase of 1 standard deviation unit (SDU) of a concentration of small dense LDL-C (sdLDL-C), a value representing how far a specific data point deviates from the mean, was associated with a 21% increase in the risk for incident Alzheimer's disease. As the name implies, small dense LDL-C (sdLDL-C) is a type of the so-called bad cholesterol with smaller and denser particles than other low-density lipoproteins, and that is considered more likely to form plaque in arteries, strongly associated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. A 1 SDU increase in a concentration of ApoB48, a lipoprotein that transports dietary fat from the intestines and into the bloodstream that also is tied to heart disease and cardiovascular problems, was found to be associated with a 22% decrease in the risk for incident Alzheimer's disease. Participants in the first quartile of HDL-C, or good cholesterol – in order of lesser amounts – were 44% less likely to develop Alzheimer's compared with those in the second, third and fourth quartiles. And those with small dense LDL-C concentrations below the median were 38% less likely to develop Alzheimer's compared with those with concentrations above the median. In summary, then, lower small-density bad cholesterol (sdLDL-C) concentrations and higher ApoB48 concentrations were associated with a lower Alzheimer's risk. And individuals with the lowest good cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations were less likely to develop Alzheimer's compared with the remaining sample. "These findings underscore links between lipoprotein metabolism pathways and Alzheimer's risk, emphasizing the potential role of blood lipoprotein markers in Alzheimer's risk stratification and of lipid modification strategies in dementia prevention," the researchers concluded. Association of Blood Lipoprotein Levels With Incident Alzheimer's Disease in Community-Dwelling Individuals: The Framingham Heart Study Sokratis Charisis, Sophia Lu, Jesus David Melgarejo, Claudia L. Satizabal, Ramachandran S. Vasan, Alexa S. Beiser, Sudha Seshadri First published: May 30, 2025, in the journal Neurology Link to full study: The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio), a primary driver of San Antonio's $44.1 billion health care and biosciences sector, is the largest academic research institution in South Texas with an annual research portfolio of more than $436 million. Driving substantial economic impact with its six professional schools, a diverse workforce of more than 9,400, an annual expense budget of $1.67 billion and clinical practices that provide 2.5 million patient visits each year, UT Health San Antonio plans continued growth over the next five years and anticipates adding more than 1,500 higher-wage jobs to serve San Antonio, Bexar County and the South Texas region. To learn about the many ways "We make lives better®," visit The Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases is dedicated to providing comprehensive dementia care while advancing treatment through clinical trials and research. The Biggs Institute is a National Institute on Aging (NIA)-designated Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC). In addition to patient care and research, the Biggs Institute partners with the School of Nursing at UT Health Science Center San Antonio to offer the Caring for the Caregiver program. Stay connected with The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. Media Contact Steven Lee, 2104503823, lees22@ View original content: SOURCE
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
After a stroke, more time in bed may affect memory, experts reveal
Research indicates that increased time in bed after a mild stroke or TIA may negatively impact cognitive function. The study, involving brain scans and cognitive assessments, revealed a link between longer time spent in bed and poorer thinking and memory skills. These findings suggest disturbed sleep could signify adverse brain health in stroke survivors. A good night's sleep is essential for health and emotional well-being. However, the same cannot be said for people who survived a stroke of transient ischemic attack (TIA). After a stroke or TIA, spending more time in bed, either sleeping or trying to sleep, may not be beneficial for cognitive function, reveals new research. According to a new study published in Neurology , added sleep duration is associated with poorer thinking and memory skills. To understand the link between sleep and brain function in individuals who suffered a stroke, the researchers studied 422 adults with an average age of 66 from Edinburgh and Hong Kong who had recently experienced a mild stroke or TIA. One to three months following the event, all participants underwent brain scans, were asked to complete sleep questionnaires, and take cognitive assessments. They found that spending more time in bed was linked to lower scores on tests of thinking and memory skills and changes in their brains that can lead to dementia or a second stroke. What is a stroke A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. A transient ischemic attack (TIA), often referred to as a 'mini stroke,' involves a brief blockage of blood flow. While symptoms usually resolve within minutes or hours, a TIA can be an early warning sign of a more serious stroke. Sleep after a stroke The researchers observed that spending more time in bed does not equate to sleep. Difficulty falling asleep, fragmented sleep, poor quality sleep, or other problems are signs of a sleep disorder. The study found that both people with longer in-bed times and with longer sleep durations were more likely to have these brain changes. The study, however, does not prove that these sleep issues cause these brain changes and thinking problems; it only shows an association. What do experts think Disturbed sleep is not great for health. 'These results show that disturbed sleep may be a marker of adverse brain health, even for people with mild strokes or TIAs. While many people know that a lack of sleep can lead to health issues, less is known about the effects of sleeping longer at night or spending a long time in bed trying to make up for having trouble sleeping—whether people are doing this consciously or not,' study author Joanna M. Wardlaw, MD, of the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom said in a statement. RFK Jr. Openly Tells World To Exit 'Bloated' WHO As Global Health Officials Watch Silently In the study, the researchers found that people who spent a longer time in bed were more likely to have signs of damage to small blood vessels in the brain, including a greater volume of white matter hyperintensities, or areas in the white matter of the brain where brain tissue has been damaged. These participants were also more likely to have slightly lower scores on the test of thinking and memory skills. People who had longer sleep duration were more likely to have small areas of microhemorrhages, or microbleeds, in the brain. 'More research is needed to confirm these findings and also to look at whether prolonged sleep has negative effects on people who have never had a stroke or TIA. Of course, research is also needed on whether improving people's sleep patterns after stroke could ward off some of these possible detrimental effects,' Wardlaw added. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Long hours in bed tied to impaired thinking in post-stroke patients
ST. PAUL, Minn., May 28 (UPI) -- The suspected connection between lack of proper sleep and stroke got stronger Wednesday with the publication of a study associating brain tissue damage and impaired thinking with long in-bed time among post-stroke patients. The study found that people who spent the most time in bed either sleeping or trying to sleep after suffering mild strokes or transient ischemic attacks were more likely to have areas of damage to the white matter and in their brains known as "hyperintensities," which are visible in magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography scans. Areas of hyperintensity in white matter are possible indicators of stress or damage to the brain's many small blood vessels, a condition known as cerebral small vessel disease, or SVD. They are associated with cognitive impairment, triple the risk of stroke and double the risk of dementia. Stroke patients who spent the most time in bed also scored slightly lower in cognition tests of thinking and memory skills, according to researchers in Scotland and Hong Kong in a study published in the online version of the U.S. medical journal Neurology. In that study, some 420 people from Edinburgh and Hong Kong with an average age of 66 who had a mild stroke or a transient ischemic attack, also known as a "mini stroke," underwent brain scans, filled out sleep questionnaires and took cognitive tests within one to three months after the stroke. Those who spent a longer time in bed were more likely to have signs of damage to small blood vessels in the brain, such as white matter hyperintensities, and also were more likely to have "slightly lower" scores on the test of thinking and memory skills. The results provide the latest piece in the mosaic of evidence pointing to poor or disturbed sleep as a risk factor for both initial and recurrent stroke or TIAs. Stroke is the fifth-leading cause of death and a top culprit in long-term disability in the United States, with nearly 800,000 Americans each year experiencing one. Given the tremendous health burden stroke imposes, identifying new ways to reduce secondary episodes and risk of death in stroke survivors is a major priority for the global health community. In probing sleep as a possible means of intervention, researchers have generally found that its relationship with stroke is complex -- sleep disturbances are likely both a contributor to, and consequence of, stroke, they have found. A 2023 review of the relatively limited number of studies available concluded that insomnia symptoms and/or poor sleep quality, as well as long sleep duration, were probably associated with increased risk of stroke. Sleep, "a modifiable behavior," was deemed a promising "secondary prevention target" to reduce the risk of recurrent event and death after a stroke. The new study strengthens the case that sleep patterns are an important marker for preventing further strokes and TIAs, according to one of the authors. Dillys Xiaodi Liu, a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California-San Francisco, told UPI in emailed comments the findings yielded some important new insights about stroke patients who spend long periods of time in bed. "Most of the previous studies have focused on sleep duration, [while] in-bed time is less investigated," she said. "One longitudinal study has reported long in-bed time is associated with higher risk of dementia and cognitive decline in older adults. "We found it particularly interesting that longer in-bed time was associated with greater white matter hyperintensity burden, a marker of cerebral small vessel disease, or SVD, which causes 'slow' thinking and movement. "This indicates the associations may be bidirectional -- patients with higher white matter hyperintensity burden may have longer in-bed time), which requires further validation in longitudinal study," she said. Liu added she'd like to see future research focus on whether the association found between sleep patterns and small vessel disease burden remains in place over time. "For example, do stroke patients with longer time in bed or longer sleep duration at the time of stroke onset exhibit greater SVD burden after one year or more? It will offer valuable insights into the role of sleep health in the management of SVD," she said, noting that another of the study's co-authors, the prominent neurologist Dr. Joanna Wardlaw of the University of Edinburgh, is currently leading a longitudinal stroke cohort study. "I hope more interesting findings will emerge from it in the future," Liu said. More evidence is emerging that links disturbed sleep patterns and stroke, according to Dr. Joyce K. Lee-Iannotti, a professor of neurology at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix and the inaugural director of its Sleep Division. Lee-Iannotti, who was not connected to the new study, told UPI there is "growing and compelling evidence linking insufficient sleep to increased stroke risk. "From my perspective as both a sleep medicine and vascular neurology specialist, this relationship is multifactorial. Chronic sleep deprivation promotes systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and autonomic dysregulation -- all of which are known contributors to cerebrovascular disease," she said. Short sleep duration also is associated with traditional stroke risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes and atrial fibrillation, Lee-Iannotti said, adding, "Clinically, I have also observed that patients with sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea -- which fragment sleep and reduce sleep efficiency -- often present with more severe strokes and slower recovery trajectories. "This underscores that sleep is not a passive state, but a critical pillar of brain and vascular health." Lee-Iannotti, who serves as the chair of American Academy of Neurology's Sleep Section, said future research should aim to clarify the mechanisms that link sleep quality and architecture with both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke subtypes. "There's also a need to integrate wearable technology and home-based diagnostics into large, longitudinal studies that can capture real-world sleep patterns over time," she said. "Biomarker discovery, including inflammatory and neurovascular markers influenced by sleep, could offer predictive insights."
