Tag

Mendelian Randomization

All articles tagged with #mendelian randomization

health1 month ago•19 min saved

GLP-1 Drugs Linked to Lower Mental Illness Risk and Mortality in New Studies

New research indicates that GLP-1 receptor agonists, widely used for weight loss and diabetes, may offer significant psychiatric and cardiovascular benefits. A genetic study suggests these drugs reduce the risk of depression and bipolar disorder independent of weight loss, while a large observational study links their use to a 24% lower mortality rate in patients with serious mental illness. Although prescribing rates for these medications have risen among adults with mental health conditions, disparities remain for those with schizophrenia.

via PsyPost|

#cardiovascular-risk #glp-1-receptor-agonists #health

relationships-and-sexual-health3 months ago•26 min saved

Genetic study links early sexual debut to faster aging and frailty

A large Mendelian randomization analysis using UK Biobank data finds that genetic predisposition to earlier age at first sex is associated with shorter lifespans and greater late-life frailty, via pathways including physical frailty, depression, COPD, and ADHD; findings support targeted education and midlife health screening, but are mostly based on European ancestry and may reflect statistical artifacts, necessitating replication in diverse populations.

via PsyPost|

#aging #early-sexual-initiation #genetics

science3 months ago•6 min saved

Onion Preference and Health: A Gene-Based Clue to Diet–Disease Links

A study analyzing taste and smell genes in over 160,000 UK adults finds that liking onions correlates with a variant in the OR2T6 smell receptor and associates with lower risk of type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure via Mendelian randomization; the approach aims to clarify diet–disease links but causality isn’t proven and replication in diverse groups is needed, with onions’ bioactive compounds a potential focus.

via ScienceAlert|

#diabetes #genetics #mendelian-randomization

health4 months ago•6 min saved

No Safe Level for Alcohol: Cancer Risk Rises, Reducing Drinking May Slow Damage

Harvard researchers review alcohol and health, showing more than 60 diseases are 100% attributable to drinking and that there is no safe level for alcohol regarding cancer; cutting back or stopping can slow progression of some diseases and even reverse certain effects (like high blood pressure and some brain changes), though liver damage may be irreversible. The findings also question supposed heart benefits of light drinking, highlight biases in observational studies, and note that alcohol type doesn’t matter. More rigorous trials are needed, but the goal is to inform personal decisions about drinking.

via Harvard Gazette|

#alcohol #cancer #epidemiology

health4 months ago•9 min saved

Vitamin D Deficiency in Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases Isn’t a Proven Disease Modifier

A comprehensive IOF review finds vitamin D deficiency is common in inflammatory rheumatic diseases and linked to higher disease activity and worse symptoms, but current evidence does not support vitamin D as a disease-modifying therapy. Supplementation safely corrects deficiency and may offer modest benefits for those with low baseline vitamin D, yet large randomized trials and Mendelian randomization studies do not show a causal role in disease onset or remission. Vitamin D remains important for bone and muscle health, but better-designed trials are needed to identify which patients (if any) may experience meaningful immunological or clinical benefits; maintain serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D around 30 ng/mL for skeletal health, while higher levels for immune modulation remain uncertain.

via News-Medical|

#bone-health #health #inflammatory-rheumatic-diseases

health4 months ago•4 min saved

Genetic clues link higher caffeine levels to lower body fat and diabetes risk

A 2023 Mendelian randomization study using data from about 10,000 people found that genetically higher plasma caffeine concentrations are associated with lower BMI and fat mass, and a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes (about half of the effect mediated by BMI). There was no clear link to cardiovascular diseases. The authors note caffeine metabolism genes CYP1A2 and AHR influence caffeine levels, and suggest caffeine may boost thermogenesis and fat oxidation; however causal relationships aren’t proven and randomized trials are needed to confirm whether non-caloric caffeinated beverages could help reduce obesity or diabetes risk.

via ScienceAlert|

#bmi #caffeine #genetics

science6 months ago•93 min saved

Host genetics and daily rhythms shape the human DNA virome

A massive multi-cohort study analyzed DNA viral load for 31 viruses in blood and saliva, finding that viral load varies with age, sex, time of day, and season, and is higher in men. Genome-wide associations implicate dozens of loci, especially in the MHC/HLA region, and genes like ERAP1/ERAP2 in shaping EBV, HHV-7, HHV-6B and other viral loads, with notable virus-specific effects and EBV subtype interactions. Saliva shows frequent lytic bursts for some herpesviruses, contrasting with blood. Mendelian randomization suggests higher EBV DNA load may causally increase Hodgkin’s lymphoma risk but not multiple sclerosis, highlighting a host-genome influence on the circulating DNA virome and its disease connections; the findings also reveal ancestry- and tissue-specific patterns and circadian/seasonal dynamics.

via Nature|

#dna-virome #ebv #hlamhc

health8 months ago•14 min saved

Cheese May Lower Sleep Apnea Risk, Study Finds

A large health study using UK Biobank and FinnGen data finds cheese consumption is associated with a 28% lower risk of sleep apnea, with researchers applying Mendelian randomization to explore causality and identifying several biomarkers potentially mediating the effect; experts caution that correlation is not causation and advise moderation and standard sleep apnea guidance from clinicians.

via HuffPost|

#cheese #diet #health

science9 months ago•4 min saved

Post-Meal Sugar Surges Linked to Higher Alzheimer's Risk, Study Suggests

UK researchers using Mendelian randomization found that higher post-meal glucose levels within two hours after eating are associated with a 69% higher risk of Alzheimer's disease, while standard glucose/insulin measures and brain MRI changes showed no clear link. The finding requires replication in more diverse populations, but could influence future dementia prevention approaches for people with diabetes.

via ScienceAlert|

#alzheimers-disease #dementia #diabetes

health-and-wellness2 years ago•3 min saved

Cheese Linked to Happier, Healthier Aging

A large genetic analysis suggests that better mental well-being, influenced by lifestyle choices like eating cheese, can lead to longer and healthier lives. The study, using Mendelian randomization, found that cheese consumption positively impacts mental well-being and healthy aging, potentially more than other factors like smoking or fruit consumption. Further research is needed to understand why cheese has such a significant effect.

via ScienceAlert|

#cheese #health-and-wellness #healthy-aging

health2 years ago•20 min saved

"Cannabis Use and Glaucoma Risk: Insights from a Mendelian Randomization Study"

A Mendelian randomization study was conducted to assess the potential causal association between cannabis use and the risk of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), the most common subtype of glaucoma. The study utilized genetic variants as instrumental variables and analyzed summary statistics from genome-wide association studies on cannabis use and POAG. The results showed no evidence to support the hypothesis that cannabis use affects the development of POAG. However, the study had limitations, such as the inability to assess dose-dependent changes and the lack of investigation into other types of glaucoma. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.

via Nature.com|

#cannabis #glaucoma #health

health3 years ago•4 min saved

Napping Boosts Brain Size, Longer Sleep Improves Cognitive Function

Regular daytime napping may help maintain brain health and slow down brain shrinkage with age, according to a study by UCL and the University of the Republic in Uruguay. Researchers found that individuals genetically inclined to nap had larger brain volumes, which is associated with a lower risk of dementia. The study suggests that short daytime naps could be beneficial for preserving brain health as we age.

via SciTechDaily|

#brain-health #cognitive-function #dementia-risk

health3 years ago•3 min saved

The Link Between Obesity and Depression: New Study Findings

A meta-analysis of previous studies suggests that obesity may be one of the causes of depression. The researchers found that obese individuals have an increased risk of depression, and the rise in obesity rates in recent decades may contribute to the increased occurrence of depression. The study used Mendelian randomization to examine the relationship between obesity and depression and found that individuals with higher BMI values had a higher risk of depression. The researchers estimated that the doubling of obesity prevalence from the 1990s to 2010s could have increased the prevalence of psychological distress by half a percentage point. However, the study only focused on depression and did not consider other mental health consequences of obesity.

via PsyPost|

#depression #health #mendelian-randomization

health3 years ago•5 min saved

Lack of Sleep Increases Risk of Clogged Leg Arteries by 74%

Insufficient sleep, particularly less than 5 hours per night, is strongly linked to an increased risk of developing peripheral artery disease (PAD), a condition that causes blocked arteries in the legs and increases the risk of stroke and heart attack, according to a new study published in the European Heart Journal. The study involved over 650,000 participants and used Mendelian randomization analysis to identify a causal relationship between sleep habits and PAD. The findings emphasize the importance of proper sleep in maintaining vascular health and preventing the onset of PAD. The American Heart Association recommends 7-9 hours of sleep per night for optimal cardiovascular health.

via Medical News Today|

#health #heart-attack #mendelian-randomization

health3 years ago•2 min saved

Caffeine's Impact on Body Fat and Diabetes Risk: New Study Findings

A new study has found that caffeine levels in the blood could affect the amount of body fat carried, which in turn could determine the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The research team used genetic markers to establish a more definitive link between caffeine levels, BMI, and type 2 diabetes risk. The study involved data from just under 10,000 people collected from existing genetic databases, focusing on variations in or near specific genes known to be associated with the speed at which caffeine is broken down. The team thinks the association shown here could be down to the way caffeine increases thermogenesis and fat oxidation in the body, which both play an important role in overall metabolism.

via ScienceAlert|

#body-fat #caffeine #cardiovascular-diseases