The gene associated with burnout at work can increase the risk of Alzheimer's

London: A genetic mutation, known to reduce tolerance to the adverse effects of shift work in the working-age population, may also increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease in the elderly, according to a study.

Alzheimer's disease is a memory disorder that causes deterioration of the brain. One of its risk factors is sleep disturbance and circadian rhythm.

Lack of sleep and disruption of the circadian rhythm are common among shift workers. Tolerance to the negative effects of shift work varies among individuals and is partially related to intrinsic genetic factors.

Researchers at the University of Helsinki in Finland have shown that in addition to the diagnosis of Alzheimer's, the variation of the melatonin 1A receptor gene (MTNR1A) is linked to visible brain damage in post-mortem brain tissue.

In addition, when the expression of the MTNR1A gene was reduced in cell culture, the beta-amyloid protein characteristic of Alzheimer's disease began to accumulate

. that the same gene variation that predisposes to fatigue of shift work is badociated with lower levels of MTNR1A gene expression in the brain

This means that the previous results are consistent with the new findings made in the epidemiological cohorts and cell cultures. 19659002] The circadian rhythm regulates the release of melatonin, which in turn supports the circadian rhythm through its receptors.

The link between a weaker signaling of endogenous melatonin and Alzheimer's disease supports the idea that regulation of circadian rhythm plays a role in the development of Alzheimer's disease [19659002"ThediscoveryofacommonriskgeneforshiftworkersandAlzheimer'sdiseasedoesnotdirectlymeanthatshiftworkwouldpredisposetoAlzheimer'sdisease"HoweverthecombinationofGeneticpredispositionandalifestylethatdisruptsthecircadianrhythmcanincreasetheriskofAlzheimer'sdisease"saidSonjaSulkavaoftheNationalInstituteofHealthandWellness(THL)inFinland

. Brain dysfunctions related to Alzheimer's disease alter tolerance to shift work decades before the onset of clinical illness, "said Sulkava," although our findings demonstrate a new link between shiftwork tolerance and nascent Alzheimer's disease. the disease, genetic variation now discovered has minimal effect on the individual level and it can not be used to badess or predict risk, "said Tiina Paunio, of THL, who led the study.