Mitochondrial Heteroplasmic Variants in Blood and Their Association with Cognitive Function in Late Midlife: Insights from the REGARDS Study - Takeaways - MDSpire

Mitochondrial Heteroplasmic Variants in Blood and Their Association with Cognitive Function in Late Midlife: Insights from the REGARDS Study

  • By

  • Diddier Prada

  • Eva Morava -Kozicz

  • Aravind Lathika Rajendrakumar

  • Allison Kupsco

  • Corina Lesseur

  • Haritz Irizar

  • David Cantú-de-Leon

  • Claudia García-Cuellar

  • Andrea Ramírez

  • Jonathan González-Ruíz

  • Carol R. Horowitz

  • Mary Cushman

  • Jennifer Manly

  • Suzanne Judd

  • Emilia Bagiella

  • Andrea Baccarelli

  • Robbie Parks

  • April 21, 2026

  • 0 min

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  • 1

    Cognitive decline in midlife can predict future dementia risk, including Alzheimer's disease, which is projected to affect 13.8 million by 2060.

  • 2

    Mitochondrial dysfunction is linked to neurodegeneration, with heteroplasmic mutations potentially influencing cognitive performance.

  • 3

    The REGARDS study analyzed mitochondrial variants in blood to explore their association with cognitive function in midlife participants.

  • 4

    Participants in the REGARDS study included 30,239 non-Hispanic Black and White individuals aged 45 and older, with diverse geographic representation.

  • 5

    The study aims to clarify the relationship between mitochondrial changes in blood and cognitive function, addressing inconsistencies in previous research.

Original Source(s)

Mitochondrial Heteroplasmic Variants in Blood and Their Association with Cognitive Function in Late Midlife: Insights from the REGARDS Study

  • by Diddier Prada, Eva Morava -Kozicz, Aravind Lathika Rajendrakumar, Allison Kupsco, Corina Lesseur, Haritz Irizar, David Cantú-de-Leon, Claudia García-Cuellar, Andrea Ramírez, Jonathan González-Ruíz, Carol R. Horowitz, Mary Cushman, Jennifer Manly, Suzanne Judd, Emilia Bagiella, Andrea Baccarelli, Robbie Parks

  • April 21, 2026

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