Multiple sclerosis and Sjogren syndrome show more associations with Alzheimer disease compared with other autoimmune diseases.
Genetic liability to multiple sclerosis and Sjogren's syndrome may be related to the risk of developing Alzheimer disease, according to a study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research.
Could Autoimmune Diseases Be Linked to Alzheimer’s?
This study explored whether autoimmune diseases, where the immune system attacks the body, might play a role in Alzheimer’s disease.
Using a method called Mendelian randomization, researchers analyzed genetic data to see if certain autoimmune conditions increase or decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s.
They looked at seven autoimmune diseases—psoriasis, sarcoidosis, multiple sclerosis, Sjogren’s syndrome, giant cell arteritis, type 1 diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis—using large genetic datasets, including one from the International Genomics of Alzheimer’s Project (with 21,982 Alzheimer’s cases and 41,944 controls) and another from the UK Biobank (tracking family history of Alzheimer’s).
The findings showed no clear link between psoriasis or sarcoidosis and Alzheimer’s. However, there was some evidence that people genetically predisposed to multiple sclerosis might have a higher risk of Alzheimer’s, while those predisposed to Sjogren’s syndrome might have a lower risk. Results for giant cell arteritis, type 1 diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis were less consistent and varied depending on the analysis method. To ensure accuracy, the study also checked for biases, like only studying survivors, by focusing on younger people and adjusting for other factors.
In short, multiple sclerosis and Sjogren’s syndrome may be linked to Alzheimer’s risk, possibly due to processes like inflammation or damage to brain tissue. More research is needed to understand these connections and what they mean for Alzheimer’s prevention or treatment.
In Summary
Some evidence was found for liability to multiple sclerosis being associated with higher risk and liability to Sjogren's syndrome with lower risk of Alzheimer's disease. The researchers concluded:
Liability to multiple sclerosis and Sjogren's syndrome could be associated with Alzheimer's disease. The underlying mechanisms, such as the role of myelin and neuroinflammation, should be further investigated.
Yeung CHC, Yeung SLA, Schooling CM. Association of autoimmune diseases with Alzheimer’s disease: A mendelian randomization study. J Psychiatr Res. 2022;155:550-558. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.09.052
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