Decrease in Identical and Fraternal Twins With Dementia
A recent study has revealed a decrease in the number of side-by-side identical twins and a slight decrease in the number of fraternal twins diagnosed with dementia. The study, conducted by researchers from America and Sweden, was published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia and reported by ‘Health Day’, a leading health and medicine web magazine.
Study Methodology
The study, which analyzed health data from 90 pairs of identical twins and 288 pairs of fraternal twins in the Swedish Twin Registry, is part of a larger research project on aging and cognition at the University of Southern California (USC). The cohort included more than 45,000 Swedish twins, providing a substantial dataset for the investigation.
Findings
The study found that if one twin is diagnosed with dementia, the life expectancy of the other twin is shortened, regardless of whether they develop dementia. Identical twins, who share 100% of their genotype, were found to have a shortened life expectancy if one of them was diagnosed with dementia. Similarly, in the case of fraternal twins, the life expectancy of the twin without dementia was slightly shorter than that of a twin without a sibling suffering from dementia.
Further analysis revealed that the environment in which siblings grow up together may play a role in influencing life expectancy. Early exposure to factors such as pollution, diet, education, and physical activity has been identified as potential contributors to this phenomenon.
Effects of Dementia on Life Expectancy
The study’s findings challenge the assumption that dementia leads to other diseases affecting mortality. Instead, researchers observed that the increased risk of death results from multiple influences, including dementia and other factors that a person brings to the disease. These effects, which may start early in life, emphasize the importance of healthy habits and upbringing. Researchers suggest that promoting healthy habits and education in childhood can significantly reduce the risk of developing dementia later in life.
To access the full paper, click here.
The number of side-by-side identical twins decreased, and the number of fraternal twins also decreased slightly.
Entered 2023.12.13 21:00 Views 29 Entered 2023.12.13 21:00 Modified 2023.12.13 14:12 Views 29
In the case of identical twins, if one of them is diagnosed with dementia, the life expectancy of both twins is shortened in the same way. In the case of fraternal twins, if they are diagnosed with dementia, the life expectancy of the twin who does not develop dementia is slightly shorter than one without a sibling. [사진= 게티이미지뱅크]A new study found that if one twin develops dementia, life expectancy is shortened regardless of whether the other twin develops dementia. This is what the health and medicine web magazine ‘Health Day’ reported on the 12th (local time) based on a paper by researchers from America and Sweden published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
This study was conducted as part of a research project on aging and cognition at the University of Southern California (USC) that has been ongoing for 40 years with a cohort of more than 45,000 Swedish twins. The researchers analyzed health data from 90 pairs of identical twins and 288 pairs of fraternal twins registered in the Swedish Twin Registry. One of the twins had dementia, but the other did not.
Identical twins share 100% of their genotype, and fraternal twins (and full siblings) share, on average, 50% of their genotype. In general, most identical or fraternal twins share the same upbringing. The environment includes factors such as early exposure to pollution, diet, education and physical activity.
As found in other studies, the average lifespan of twins diagnosed with dementia was around 7 years. What has just been revealed is as follows: In the case of identical twins, if one of them is diagnosed with dementia, the life expectancy of both twins is shortened in the same way. In the case of fraternal twins, if they are diagnosed with dementia, the life expectancy of the twin who does not develop dementia is slightly shorter than one without a sibling.
Why does having a sibling with dementia shorten a person’s life? The research team said that the environment in which siblings grow up together may have an influence, but it is not clear. For example, if you both develop unhealthy eating habits or other habits during childhood, it can increase your risk of developing heart disease decades later. Heart disease increases the risk of dementia, and even in siblings who do not have dementia, heart disease can be a factor in shortening life expectancy.
“We assumed that the reason why people with dementia have a shorter life expectancy is because dementia leads to other diseases that affect mortality,” said Jang Jeong-yoon, a doctoral candidate in psychology at USC led the study. “Instead, what we saw was that the increased risk of death results from the effect of the whole package of not only dementia itself, but also other influences that a person brings to the disease,” he explained.
Most of these pack effects start early in life. “The message of this study to parents is to make sure their children eat healthy, exercise, and get an education,” said Margaret Gaetz, professor of psychology, geriatrics, and preventive medicine at USC and a member of the research team. It will reduce the risk of your child developing dementia 75 years later.”
You can check the paper through the following link (
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