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Sleep genes and Circadian rhythm in dementia prevention

Project description

Exploring the connection between sleep patterns, genetics and dementia risk

From 2000 to 2018, the number of people over the age of 60 with dementia in EU Member States jumped from around six million to over nine million. Observational data suggests a link between changes in sleep patterns and circadian rhythms of motor activity and dementia. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the CLOCKED project will evaluate sleep patterns and genetic versus non-genetic risk factors in dementia. To do so, the team will leverage the largest twin registry in the world together with accelerometery data on around 100 000 participants from the UK Biobank data. Outcomes could point to a more accurate predictor for dementia.

Objective

Changes in sleep patterns are common among people with dementia, however why short (≤6hrs) or long sleep (≥9hrs) duration is less favorable for dementia, remains unknown. Given that approximately 46% & 44% of variability in sleep duration is explained by genetics, it is pertinent to consider genetic influences when understanding the mechanisms contributing to sleep-related risk for dementia. In addition to sleep, there is growing interest in the relationship between circadian rhythms, the 24-hour cycles of body & dementia. Links between Alzheimer’s’ dementia and the circadian system are suggested by common observations that an early symptom of Alzheimer’s’ dementia is fragmented sleep/wake patterns with increasing night\time activity and daytime naps. Even among individuals who are cognitively intact, altered circadian rhythms of motor activity have been linked to amyloid pathology; the hallmark of Alzheimer’s’ dementia. There is some evidence linking weakening circadian rhythm to dementia, yet it is not clear whether disruption of clock contributes to incidence dementia. In CLOCKED, I will use data from the Swedish Twin Registry with over 20 years of follow-up, the largest twin registry in the world to assess if sleep polygenic risk score influences the risk of incident dementia (overall, Alzheimer’s’, vascular) & examine whether differences in dementia risk are influenced by a genetically predicted sleep or sleep driven mainly by non-genetic factors, i.e. environmental lifestyle factors. Using accelerometry data on around 100,000 participants from the UK Biobank data, I will assess the relation of accelerometer-assessed circadian rhythmicity with incident dementia & quantify dementia risk stratified by sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, shift work, lifestyle factors, & metabolic status; and determine whether a risk score consisting of circadian factors (i.e. circadian syndrome) is a more accurate predictor for dementia than existing risk scores.

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HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01

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Coordinator

KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 206 887,68
Address
NOBELS VAG 5
171 77 STOCKHOLM
Sweden

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Region
Östra Sverige Stockholm Stockholms län
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

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