Using a method called Mendelian randomization, the researchers analyzed data from more than 450,000 participants in the UK Biobank database. They analyzed a sample of about 22,000 people with Alzheimer’s disease and 42,000 without it, as well as an additional sample of 252,000 people with and without Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers also examined the genes and intelligence of 269,000 participants. Bioimpedance measurements were performed to evaluate muscle mass and adipose tissue in the arms and legs, and the results were adjusted for age, gender, and genetic factors.
The analysis showed that 584 genetic variants were associated with muscle mass, but none concentrated in the Alzheimer’s disease-associated region of the APOE gene. Together, these genetic variations accounted for ten percent of the differences in the muscle mass of the participants.
Higher genetically determined muscle mass was significantly associated with a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, people with greater muscle volume showed better cognitive abilities, but this did not fully explain the protective effect against Alzheimer’s disease.
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Source: Ferra
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