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Genetic Basis of Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome

Neurology; ePub 2019 Feb 8; Sathyan, et al

Obesity-related genetic traits increase risk of motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR), a pre-dementia syndrome characterized by the presence of subjective cognitive complaints and slow gait, according to a recent study. Researchers analyzed 4,915 individuals, aged ≥65 years, with European ancestry (mean age 75.0 ± 6.8 years, 56.6% women) in the Health and Retirement Study. They found:

  • There were 260 prevalent MCR cases, 529 with slow gait, and 1,928 with subjective cognitive complaints.
  • Higher PGSs for BMI (OR 1.22) and waist circumference (OR 1.23) were associated with MCR, and PGS of AD showed a suggestive association (OR 1.16).
  • Higher PGS for neuroticism (OR 1.10) was associated with cognitive complaints, whereas higher well-being PGS (OR 0.92) was protective.
  • PGS for BMI (OR 1.16), waist circumference (OR 1.19), and AD (OR 1.13) was associated with slow gait.
Citation:

Sathyan S, Wang T, Ayers E, Verghese J. Genetic basis of motoric cognitive risk syndrome in the Health and Retirement Study. [Published online ahead of print February 8, 2019]. Neurology. 10.1212/WNL.0000000000007141.