Genetic variation in the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor protein encoding region is associated with higher heart rate variability, but not with neurodegeneration of the brain, retina, and peripheral nerves: The Maastricht study
Authors' conclusion
Higher putative GLP1R protein expression, assessed from genetic variation in the GLP1R protein encoding region, was significantly associated with lower levels of neurodegeneration in the heart, but not in the brain, retina, and peripheral nerves. Future clinical trials should test whether use of GLP1R agonists can contribute to prevention of cardiac autonomic nerve degeneration and associated clinical disease.
Study context
- Population
- Participants of The Maastricht Study; mean age 59.5 (SD 8.7) years, 49.4% men, 20.0% with T2D (by design)up to
- Participants
- 7,446 participants
- Exposure
- Higher vs lower GLP1R genetic score
- Outcome
- Neurodegeneration measured in heart (HRV), brain (MRI structural connectivity, brain volume, cognition), retina (retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, retinal sensitivity) and peripheral nerves (conduction velocity)
Methodological detailsgenetic score analysis, multivariable regression
- Genetic score analysis
- Multivariable regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Time-domain HRV per SD higher GLP1R score (SD)
0.031
0.006, 0.056
Frequency-domain HRV per SD higher GLP1R score (SD), not statistically significant
0.024
- 0.001, 0.048
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Interaction with age, sex and glucose metabolism status
- Associations did not consistently differ by age, sex or glucose metabolism status
Original publication
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