In the quest to tackle Alzheimer’s disease, a condition that gradually takes away a person’s memory and ability to perform daily tasks, researchers are turning to our genetic blueprint for answers.
Despite the absence of a cure, understanding the genetic factors that make some people more susceptible to Alzheimer’s can shine a light on new pathways for treatment and prevention.
A recent collaborative effort between Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) and UTHealth Houston School of Public Health has brought us a step closer to this goal.
Their study, published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, has unveiled several genetic variants that could influence an individual’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
This discovery is crucial for pinpointing which genes and variants are involved in the disease, setting the stage for targeted treatments in the future.
The team’s research stands out because it goes beyond what previous studies have done. Most of the earlier work focused on common genetic variants and their links to Alzheimer’s, but this study used whole genome sequencing.
This method looks at every single part of the human genome, revealing both common and rare genetic changes that could play a role in the disease. With this approach, the researchers identified 17 significant genetic variants across five regions of the genome related to Alzheimer’s.
This breakthrough is particularly significant because Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting over 6 million Americans. With the number expected to double by 2050, understanding the genetic underpinnings of Alzheimer’s is more crucial than ever.
The study not only highlighted the KAT8 variant, significant in both single and rare variant analyses, but also pointed to associations with several rare TREM2 variants.
These findings open new doors for exploring how specific genetic changes contribute to the risk or protection against Alzheimer’s.
A noteworthy aspect of this study is its inclusion of a diverse group of participants. Alzheimer’s disease studies have historically underrepresented Black and Latino populations, even though these groups have a higher prevalence of the disease.
By analyzing data from different ethnic groups, the researchers aim to create a more complete picture of Alzheimer’s risk factors across populations.
However, the study’s authors acknowledge the limitations due to small sample sizes in population-specific analyses. Despite this, they were able to replicate known differences in the APOE gene, a well-established risk factor for Alzheimer’s, across different populations.
Looking ahead, the team plans to expand their research to larger sample sizes, which will allow them to investigate how these newly identified genetic variants affect the body and contribute to Alzheimer’s disease.
This research not only promises to deepen our understanding of the genetic factors involved in Alzheimer’s but also offers hope for developing more effective treatments and preventive measures against this debilitating condition.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies that bad lifestyle habits can cause Alzheimer’s disease, and strawberries can be good defence against Alzheimer’s.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies that oral cannabis extract may help reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms, and Vitamin E may help prevent Parkinson’s disease.
The research findings can be found in Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
Copyright © 2024 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
