Dementia gene raises risk of severe COVID-19

[2greys]

Having a faulty gene linked to dementia doubles the risk of developing severe COVID-19, according to a large-scale study.

Researchers at the University of Exeter Medical School and the University of Connecticut School of Medicine analysed data from the UK Biobank, and found high risk of severe COVID-19 infection among European ancestry participants who carry two faulty copies of the APOE gene (termed e4e4). One in 36 people of European ancestry have two faulty copies of this gene, and this is known to increase risks of Alzheimer’s disease up to 14-fold* and also increases risks of heart disease.

Now, the research team has found that carrying these gene mutations doubles the risks of COVID-19 - even in people who had not developed these diseases.

exeter.ac.uk/news/research/...

[SquirrelsHolt]

Morning! A worrying piece of reading here 2greys, but it seems as though COVID19 makes any dementia patient with the e4e4 gene, a likely target with this virus. Hard reading but necessary to increase our knowledge i feel. Thank you. 🐿🌈💕

[2greys in reply to SquirrelsHolt]

Knowledge is power. Without what I have learnt, I am totally convinced that my personal outcome with Cov-19 would have been so very different.

[SquirrelsHolt in reply to 2greys]

Agreed, so please keep passing down the "power" as it could not have come from a more respected member and one who certainly had the odds stacked against them with COVID-19 . Strength, mentally and physically , you beat the bu**er! Sharon as well. We must not forget how hard a recovery she must have had. 🐿🌈💕

[HungryHufflepuff]

That's quite alarming reading. But thanks.