PCSK9 genetic variants and cognitive abilities: a large-scale Mendelian randomization study

Journal article

Introduction: PCSK9 inhibitors lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and are efficacious at reducing vascular disease, however questions remain about potential effects on cognitive function. Methods: We examined the association of genetic variants in PCSK9 with continuous measures of cognitive ability in UK Biobank. Six independent polymorphisms in PCSK9 were used in up to 337,348 individuals. Results: The PCSK9 allele score was associated with a lower risk of CHD, and weakly with worse log reaction time. Conclusions: We are unable to rule out meaningful associations of PCSK9 genetic variants with cognition, emphasising the potential need for continued pharmacovigilance for patients currently treated with PCSK9 inhibitors

Authors: Lyall, DM; Ward, J; Banach, M; Smith, GD; Gill, JG

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Termedia Publishing
• Journal: Archives of Medical Science
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 241-244
• Publication date: 2021-01-05
• DOI: 10.5114/aoms/127226
• EISSN: 1896-9151
• ISSN: 1734-1922
• Language: English
• Keywords: Medicine; Genotype; Lipoprotein; Biology; Biobank; Cholesterol; Internal medicine; Allele; Gene; Psychiatry; Genetics; Bioinformatics; Cognition; LDL receptor; PCSK9; Clinical psychology; Genetic variants; Mendelian randomization