Alzheimer’s breakthrough: genetic link to gut disorders confirmed

The gut-brain bidirectional communication is well-known, and studies suggest the potential roles of this concept in the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, there is a longstanding debate on the likely relationship of AD with gut disorders. Using the genetic study approach, a new study (published in Communications Biology) provides new insights into this subject, revealing a risk increasing relationship between AD and several gut disorders including peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, irritable bowel syndrome, gastritis-duodenitis, diverticulosis but not inflammatory bowel disease.

 Findings also implicate shared but non-causal genetic susceptibility of gut disorders with the risk of AD, identifying many shared genes and regions in the genome. Further assessment highlights the likely roles of the immune system and mechanisms related to lipid metabolism (including those of lipid-lowering medications: lipase inhibitors and statins) in AD and gut disorders. 

Reference:

A large-scale genome-wide cross-trait analysis reveals shared genetic architecture between Alzheimer’s disease and gastrointestinal tract disorders, https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-03607-2 (https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-022-03607-2) 

Authors: Emmanuel O Adewuyi,Eleanor O’Brien, Dale Nyholt, Tenielle Porter, Simon Laws Edith 

Edith Cowan University 

QUT (Queensland University of Technology) 

Curtin University