According to the latest reports, it seems that carrying specific genes can virtually signal inevitable Alzheimer’s pathology. Check out the latest reports about this below.
Alzheimer’s pathology related to specific genes
A recent study has revealed that individuals who have two copies of the APOE4 gene variant are at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
In fact, it is not just a risk factor anymore, but a strong link to the onset of the condition. Dr. Juan Fortea, who is the director of the Memory Unit of the Neurology Service at the Santa Pau Hospital in Barcelona, and a lead author of the study, has stated that with this duplicated gene, virtually all individuals tend to develop Alzheimer’s biology.
The discovery of a gene variant could lead to earlier diagnoses, as well as more targeted prevention strategies and treatments for individuals carrying two copies of the gene.
Dr. Fortea estimates that approximately 2-3% of the population carries two copies of the APOE4 gene. The research team analyzed clinical data, pathological changes, and biomarkers in individuals with two APOE4 alleles.
Their database included 3,297 brain donors, 273 individuals with dual APOE4 genes, and clinical/biomarker data from 10,000 people, including 519 with the dual APOE4 variant.
According to a recent analysis published in Nature Medicine, individuals with two APOE4 genes are highly likely to have increased Alzheimer’s biomarker levels by the age of 55, as compared to those who have the APOE3 gene.
The study also found that by the age of 65, more than 95 percent of people who have two APOE4 alleles (APOE4 homozygotes) showed abnormal levels of amyloid in their cerebrospinal fluid, which is a crucial early marker of Alzheimer’s disease.
It has been also revealed the fact that 75 percent of these individuals had positive amyloid PET scans, which is a test used to detect beta-amyloid in the brain, leading to a more accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.
“The data clearly show that having two copies of the APOE4 gene not only increases the risk, but also anticipates the onset of Alzheimer’s, reinforcing the need for specific preventive strategies,” Dr. Alberto Lleó, director of the Memory Unit in the Neurology Department at the Hospital of Sant Pau, said in a statement.
