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Genetic variants influencing human aging from late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) genome-wide association studies (GWAS)

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Emma Vardy

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Abstract

Genetics plays a crucial role in human aging with up to 30% of those living to the mid-80s being determined by genetic variation. Survival to older ages likely entails an even greater genetic contribution. There is increasing evidence that genes implicated in age-related diseases, such as cancer and neuronal disease, play a role in affecting human life span. We have selected the 10 most promising late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) susceptibility genes identified through several recent large genome-wide association studies (GWAS). These 10 LOAD genes (APOE, CLU, PICALM, CR1, BIN1, ABCA7, MS4A6A, CD33, CD2AP, and EPHA1) have been tested for association with human aging in our dataset (1385 samples with documented age at death [AAD], age range: 58-108 years; mean age at death: 80.2) using the most significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) found in the previous studies. Apart from the APOE locus (rs2075650) which showed compelling evidence of association with risk on human life span (p = 5.27 × 10(-4)), none of the other LOAD gene loci demonstrated significant evidence of association. In addition to examining the known LOAD genes, we carried out analyses using age at death as a quantitative trait. No genome-wide significant SNPs were discovered. Increasing sample size and statistical power will be imperative to detect genuine aging-associated variants in the future. In this report, we also discuss issues relating to the analysis of genome-wide association studies data from different centers and the bioinformatic approach required to distinguish spurious genome-wide significant signals from real SNP associations.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Shi H, Belbin O, Medway C, Brown K, Kalsheker N, Carrasquillo M, Proitsi P, Powell J, Lovestone S, Goate A, Younkin S, Passmore P, Genetic and Environmental Risk for Alzheimer's Disease Consortium, Morgan K, Alzheimer's Research UK Consortium

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Neurobiology of Aging

Year: 2012

Volume: 33

Issue: 8

Pages: 1849.e5-1849.e18

Print publication date: 23/03/2012

ISSN (print): 0197-4580

ISSN (electronic): 1558-1497

Publisher: Elsevier

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2012.02.014

DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2012.02.014

PubMed id: 22445811

Notes: Emma Vardy is a member of the Alzheimer's Research UK Consortium


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