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Genetic Variants Associated With Alzheimer Disease in the 22 Arab Countries: A Systematic Review
Al-Thani HF, Ahmad MN, Younes S, Zayed H.. Alzheimer disease and associated disorders, 2021-04-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Background and aims Alzheimer disease (AD) is a progressive and complex neurodegenerative disease. Approximately 70% of AD risk is attributed to genetic risk factors, including variants in amyloid precursor protein (APP), presenilin 1 (PSEN1), and presenilin 2 (PSEN2) genes. Several studies have revealed a considerable number of candidate loci and genes for AD among different ethnic populations. However, the outcomes of these studies have been inconsistent. In this study, we aimed to investigate the spectrum of variants that are associated with the onset and development of AD among 22 Arab countries. Methodology We systematically searched 4 literature databases (Science Direct, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science) from the date of inception until July 2020 using various search terms to obtain all the reported genetic data on Arab AD cases. Results In total, 18 studies were included, comprising a total of 2173 individuals, of whom 888 were clinically diagnosed AD patients and were genetically tested for genes and variants associated with AD. A total of 27 variants in 8 genes were found to be associated with AD. Of these variants, 17 were unique to the Arab population and 10 were shared with other ethnic groups. Conclusions There is a dearth of studies on the genetics of AD in the Arab world. There seems to be distinctive genetic and clinical susceptibility profiles for Arab patients with AD.
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APA 7th
Al-Thani, H. F., Ahmad, M. N., Younes, S., & Zayed, H. (2021). Genetic Variants Associated With Alzheimer Disease in the 22 Arab Countries: A Systematic Review. Alzheimer disease and associated disorders. https://doi.org/10.1097/wad.0000000000000447
Vancouver
Al-Thani HF, Ahmad MN, Younes S, Zayed H. Genetic Variants Associated With Alzheimer Disease in the 22 Arab Countries: A Systematic Review. Alzheimer disease and associated disorders. 2021. doi:10.1097/wad.0000000000000447. PMID: 33769987.
BibTeX
@article{althani2021-33769987,
author = {Al-Thani, H. F. and Ahmad, M. N. and Younes, S. and Zayed, H.},
title = {{Genetic Variants Associated With Alzheimer Disease in the 22 Arab Countries: A Systematic Review}},
journal = {Alzheimer disease and associated disorders},
year = {2021},
doi = {10.1097/wad.0000000000000447},
pmid = {33769987},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1097/wad.0000000000000447}
}
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Key findings
- Several studies have revealed a considerable number of candidate loci and genes for AD among different ethnic populations.
- In this study, we aimed to investigate the spectrum of variants that are associated with the onset and development of AD among 22 Arab countries.
- Results In total, 18 studies were included, comprising a total of 2173 individuals, of whom 888 were clinically diagnosed AD patients and were genetically tested for genes and variants associated with AD.
- A total of 27 variants in 8 genes were found to be associated with AD.
Why it matters
Reviewing 18 studies of Alzheimer's genetics in Arab populations, covering 2,173 people, this systematic review found 27 variants in 8 genes associated with Alzheimer's, 17 of them unique to Arab populations. The authors highlight how little genetic research on Alzheimer's exists in the Arab world and suggest Arab patients may have distinctive genetic and clinical susceptibility profiles.
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Study details
- Study designsystematic review
- Participants2,173
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 50/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a systematic review of all the studies on the question. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Alzheimer disease and associated disorders) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders: journal h-index 131 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A systematic review of all the studies on the question |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 3 / 5 | 2021 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 2,173 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | A review of other studies — randomization is not credited here |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 11 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.6 citations a year over 7 year(s) since 2021 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 4 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Hatem Zayed: h-index 38 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Qatar University: institution h-index 377 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 33769987) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 50 / 100 | — |
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