NEW DELHI (Nov 28): The risk of delirium — a sudden state of confusion frequently seen among hospitalised patients — has been directly and independently linked to a gene long associated with Alzheimer’s disease, according to a large-scale analysis of over one million individuals from the UK, Finland, and the US.
The gene APOE produces a protein responsible for transporting cholesterol and other fats through the bloodstream. Its APOE e4 variant is widely known for increasing the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive condition that impairs memory, thinking, and decision-making.
However, researchers from the University of Edinburgh have found that APOE e4 also has its own distinct role in causing delirium. Their findings indicate that a person’s risk of experiencing delirium cannot be explained solely by the gene’s connection to Alzheimer’s disease.
