Tcim, as mentioned in the context of the MIND diet and dementia research, is one of the genes whose expression appears to mediate the association between the MIND diet and dementia [1]. While no specific information about its essential function, associated pathways, or overall biological importance is provided in the given references, it is part of a transcriptomic profile correlated with the MIND diet, which is related to cognitive health.

The study integrating dietary, brain transcriptomic, and cognitive data in older adults identified a 50-gene transcriptomic profile correlated with the MIND diet score. Expressions of genes like TCIM seemed to play a role in the relationship between the MIND diet and dementia. Each standard deviation increase in the transcriptomic profile score was associated with a slower annual rate of decline in global cognition and lower odds of dementia [1].

In conclusion, TCIM is potentially important in the context of how the MIND diet impacts cognitive health and dementia risk. Although its exact biological functions are yet to be fully elucidated, the discovery through this integrative study of its role in the relationship between diet and dementia provides a starting point for further exploration of its function in this disease-related area.

References:

1. Li, Jun, Capuano, Ana W, Agarwal, Puja, Liang, Liming, Grodstein, Francine. 2024. The MIND diet, brain transcriptomic alterations, and dementia. In Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association, 20, 5996-6007. doi:10.1002/alz.14062. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39129336/