Genome-wide meta-analysis of muscle weakness identifies 15 susceptibility loci in older men and women.

ABSTRACT: Low muscle strength is an important heritable indicator of poor health linked to morbidity and mortality in older people. In a genome-wide association study meta-analysis of 256,523 Europeans aged 60 years and over from 22 cohorts we identify 15 loci associated with muscle weakness (European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People definition: n = 48,596 cases, 18.9% of total), including 12 loci not implicated in previous analyses of continuous measures of grip strength. Loci include genes reportedly involved in autoimmune disease (HLA-DQA1 p = 4 × 10^-17), arthritis (GDF5 p = 4 × 10^-13), cell cycle control and cancer protection, regulation of transcription, and others involved in the development and maintenance of the musculoskeletal system. Using Mendelian randomi

SUBMITTER: Jones G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7844411 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature