Mendelian Randomization Study Supports Genetic Liability to Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder Associated With the Risk of Alzheimer's Disease

ABSTRACT Background Observational studies have suggested that obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) may be associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, whether OCD is a causal risk factor for AD remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the causal effect of OCD on AD risk by performing a...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Si Cao, Han Su, Xiaoyi Zhang, Chao Fang, Nayiyuan Wu, Youjie Zeng, Minghua Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-10-01
Series:Brain and Behavior
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70081
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850201381137285120
author Si Cao
Han Su
Xiaoyi Zhang
Chao Fang
Nayiyuan Wu
Youjie Zeng
Minghua Chen
author_facet Si Cao
Han Su
Xiaoyi Zhang
Chao Fang
Nayiyuan Wu
Youjie Zeng
Minghua Chen
author_sort Si Cao
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Background Observational studies have suggested that obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) may be associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, whether OCD is a causal risk factor for AD remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the causal effect of OCD on AD risk by performing a two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Methods Genome‐wide association summary statistics were obtained for OCD, comprising 2688 cases and 7037 controls, as well as for AD, including 21,982 cases and 41,944 controls from Kunkle et al.’s study, and 39,918 cases and 358,140 controls from Wightman et al.’s study. On the basis of two diverse thresholds, OCD‐associated genetic variants were screened as instrumental variables (IVs) for subsequent MR analyses. Inverse variance weighed was the primary MR method. MR‐Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode were used as supplementary MR methods. Various sensitivity tests assessed the reliability of MR results. Results On the basis of strict IV selecting thresholds, inverse‐variance weighted (IVW) identified significant causal associations between genetic liability to OCD and increased risk of AD in two different sources ((i) Kunkle et al.: odds ratio [OR] = 1.070, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.015–1.127, p = 0.012; (ii) Wightman et al. 0.012; (iii) Wightman et al.: OR = 1.051, 95% CI: 1.014–1.090, p = 0.007). Three other supplementary MR methods yielded similar results to IVWs (OR > 1). Furthermore, all results were replicated in MR analyses based on lenient IV selecting thresholds. The sensitivity tests indicated that MR results were stable and not affected by significant horizontal pleiotropy. Conclusions This comprehensive MR study suggests that genetic liability to OCD is a causal risk factor for AD. Early intervention in patients with OCD may be beneficial in preventing future AD progression.
format Article
id doaj-art-09820358c39e477ca98d3a7b549671fa
institution OA Journals
issn 2162-3279
language English
publishDate 2024-10-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Brain and Behavior
spelling doaj-art-09820358c39e477ca98d3a7b549671fa2025-08-20T02:12:02ZengWileyBrain and Behavior2162-32792024-10-011410n/an/a10.1002/brb3.70081Mendelian Randomization Study Supports Genetic Liability to Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder Associated With the Risk of Alzheimer's DiseaseSi Cao0Han Su1Xiaoyi Zhang2Chao Fang3Nayiyuan Wu4Youjie Zeng5Minghua Chen6Department of Anesthesiology, Third Xiangya Hospital Central South University Changsha Hunan ChinaDepartment of Anesthesiology, Third Xiangya Hospital Central South University Changsha Hunan ChinaDepartment of Medicine, Jacobi Medical Center Albert Einstein College of Medicine Bronx New York USAThe Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine Central South University/Hunan Cancer Hospital Changsha Hunan ChinaThe Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine Central South University/Hunan Cancer Hospital Changsha Hunan ChinaDepartment of Anesthesiology, Third Xiangya Hospital Central South University Changsha Hunan ChinaDepartment of Anesthesiology, Third Xiangya Hospital Central South University Changsha Hunan ChinaABSTRACT Background Observational studies have suggested that obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) may be associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, whether OCD is a causal risk factor for AD remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the causal effect of OCD on AD risk by performing a two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Methods Genome‐wide association summary statistics were obtained for OCD, comprising 2688 cases and 7037 controls, as well as for AD, including 21,982 cases and 41,944 controls from Kunkle et al.’s study, and 39,918 cases and 358,140 controls from Wightman et al.’s study. On the basis of two diverse thresholds, OCD‐associated genetic variants were screened as instrumental variables (IVs) for subsequent MR analyses. Inverse variance weighed was the primary MR method. MR‐Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode were used as supplementary MR methods. Various sensitivity tests assessed the reliability of MR results. Results On the basis of strict IV selecting thresholds, inverse‐variance weighted (IVW) identified significant causal associations between genetic liability to OCD and increased risk of AD in two different sources ((i) Kunkle et al.: odds ratio [OR] = 1.070, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.015–1.127, p = 0.012; (ii) Wightman et al. 0.012; (iii) Wightman et al.: OR = 1.051, 95% CI: 1.014–1.090, p = 0.007). Three other supplementary MR methods yielded similar results to IVWs (OR > 1). Furthermore, all results were replicated in MR analyses based on lenient IV selecting thresholds. The sensitivity tests indicated that MR results were stable and not affected by significant horizontal pleiotropy. Conclusions This comprehensive MR study suggests that genetic liability to OCD is a causal risk factor for AD. Early intervention in patients with OCD may be beneficial in preventing future AD progression.https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70081Alzheimer's diseasecausal inferenceobsessive–compulsive disorderrisk factors
spellingShingle Si Cao
Han Su
Xiaoyi Zhang
Chao Fang
Nayiyuan Wu
Youjie Zeng
Minghua Chen
Mendelian Randomization Study Supports Genetic Liability to Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder Associated With the Risk of Alzheimer's Disease
Brain and Behavior
Alzheimer's disease
causal inference
obsessive–compulsive disorder
risk factors
title Mendelian Randomization Study Supports Genetic Liability to Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder Associated With the Risk of Alzheimer's Disease
title_full Mendelian Randomization Study Supports Genetic Liability to Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder Associated With the Risk of Alzheimer's Disease
title_fullStr Mendelian Randomization Study Supports Genetic Liability to Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder Associated With the Risk of Alzheimer's Disease
title_full_unstemmed Mendelian Randomization Study Supports Genetic Liability to Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder Associated With the Risk of Alzheimer's Disease
title_short Mendelian Randomization Study Supports Genetic Liability to Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder Associated With the Risk of Alzheimer's Disease
title_sort mendelian randomization study supports genetic liability to obsessive compulsive disorder associated with the risk of alzheimer s disease
topic Alzheimer's disease
causal inference
obsessive–compulsive disorder
risk factors
url https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70081
work_keys_str_mv AT sicao mendelianrandomizationstudysupportsgeneticliabilitytoobsessivecompulsivedisorderassociatedwiththeriskofalzheimersdisease
AT hansu mendelianrandomizationstudysupportsgeneticliabilitytoobsessivecompulsivedisorderassociatedwiththeriskofalzheimersdisease
AT xiaoyizhang mendelianrandomizationstudysupportsgeneticliabilitytoobsessivecompulsivedisorderassociatedwiththeriskofalzheimersdisease
AT chaofang mendelianrandomizationstudysupportsgeneticliabilitytoobsessivecompulsivedisorderassociatedwiththeriskofalzheimersdisease
AT nayiyuanwu mendelianrandomizationstudysupportsgeneticliabilitytoobsessivecompulsivedisorderassociatedwiththeriskofalzheimersdisease
AT youjiezeng mendelianrandomizationstudysupportsgeneticliabilitytoobsessivecompulsivedisorderassociatedwiththeriskofalzheimersdisease
AT minghuachen mendelianrandomizationstudysupportsgeneticliabilitytoobsessivecompulsivedisorderassociatedwiththeriskofalzheimersdisease