Mendelian randomization indicates that TNF is not causally associated with Alzheimer's disease

Neurobiol Aging. 2019 Dec:84:241.e1-241.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.09.003. Epub 2019 Sep 9.

Abstract

Epidemiological research has suggested that inhibition of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) reduces the overall risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). TNF-α antagonists have been suggested as a potential treatment for AD. We used a two-sample Mendelian randomization design to examine the causal relationship between blood TNF expression, serum TNF-α levels, and RA on AD risk. Our results do not support a causal relationship between TNF expression, serum TNF-α levels, and RA on AD risk.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Mendelian randomization; Rheumatoid arthritis; TNF; Tumor necrosis factor.

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy
  • Alzheimer Disease / etiology*
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid
  • Humans
  • Mendelian Randomization Analysis
  • Risk
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha* / metabolism

Substances

  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha