People with 2 copies of a risk gene have genetic form of Alzheimer's, scientists say

By: asiaone.com

Jun 24 2024
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People with 2 copies of a risk gene have genetic form of Alzheimer's, scientists say — People with 2 copies of a risk

CHICAGO — People who carry two copies of the APOE4 gene are virtually guaranteed to develop Alzheimer's and face symptoms at an earlier age, researchers reported on Monday (May 6) in a study that could redefine such carriers as having a new genetic form of the mind-wasting disease.

The reclassification could change Alzheimer's research, diagnosis and approaches to treatment, according to the researchers, whose study was published in the journal Nature Medicine.

"Through these data we are saying that perhaps this is a genetic form of this disease, not merely a risk factor indication," study co-author Sterling Johnson of the University of Wisconsin's Alzheimer's Disease Research Centre told reporters in a briefing.

Scientists have known for three decades that people with two copies of APOE4 gene variant have significantly higher risk of developing the disease than people with the most common version of the APOE gene, known as APOE3. About two per cent to three per cent of the general population, or 15 per cent of people with Alzheimer's, have two copies of the APOE4 variant.