A genetic variant could double dementia risk in men

Health Report - Separate stories podcast

If you’re a man carrying a common genetic variant, you could be twice as likely to develop dementia in your lifetime compared to women.

An Australian study made the connection between risk and variants in the haemochromatosis gene, which is critical for regulating iron levels in the body.

It’s not yet known why having two copies of this variant increases the risk of dementia for males but not females.

Guest/s

• Professor John Olynyk, hepatologist and associate director of clinical engagement at the Curtin Medical Research Institute

References

• Haemochromatosis Genotypes and Incident Dementia in a Prospective Study of Older Adults