New Genetic Risk Variants for Alzheimer’s Disease Risk Identified
A dive into the genetic data of over 1 million people reveals seven new gene variants associated with late-onset Alzheimer’s disease
Genes and lifestyle: 1 + 1 = 3
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, accounting for roughly 60–70% of patients. Like most dementia types, Alzheimer’s disease is is a neurodegenerative condition associated with cognitive, memory, and behavioral problems. Telltale molecular signs of the disease are plaques and tangles in the brain. (Although the causal relationship between the disease and the plaques/tangles is still unclear).
Several genes are known to affect the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The gene most of us have heard about is APOE.
One version (allele) of this gene, APOE4, is associated with a significantly increased risk for Alzheimer’s. The APOE2 version, on the other hand, seems protective. A recent study identified a new protective gene variant: the APOE3 Christchurch (R136S) mutation. (Here is a risk assessment of the different APOE versions.)
Genes are only one variable in the equation, however. Some people with APOE4 don’t get Alzheimer’s disease, and some…
