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<B>Assessing the causality of the association between homocysteine and AD-related
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   Lead Investigator:    Aristotle Voineskos
   Institution      :    Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
   E-Mail           :    aristotle.voineskos@camh.ca
   Proposal ID      :    849
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   Proposal Description:
   <textarea name="description" rows="12" cols="85" wrap="virtual" readonly>Observational studies have suggested circulating homocysteine as a modifiable     risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and age-related cognitive decline.       However, results from homocysteine-lowering clinical trials on AD-related         outcomes have been inconsistent. The discrepancy between findings from            observational and interventional studies may suggest a lack of causal             association between high plasma homocysteine level and increased risk for AD,     and may be explained by reverse causality or the effect of confounding factors    in observational studies. Using a polygenic score association approach, we aim    to assess the causal effect of the homocysteine on AD risk and AD-related         behavioral and biologic outcomes, independent of the effects of reverse           causality and confounding. Our results may impact clinical management in AD. </textarea>