The Multiple Sclerosis severity allele rs10191329A and cognitive function: a UK Biobank study

The genome-wide association study of Multiple Sclerosis severity linked the genetic variant rs10191329 A to long-term disability, suggesting it affects central nervous system resilience. We hypothesised that rs10191329 A might influence cognition in other neurological diseases and in healthy controls. We explored the relationship between rs10191329 A and cognitive function - measured using reaction time, fluid intelligence, and prospective memory tests - in the United Kingdom Biobank. Rs10191329 A was consistently associated with poorer cognition in controls, with similar but non-significant trends in Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia. Our results support the hypothesis that rs10191329 A affects multiple sclerosis outcomes by modulating brain health.