Science is making progress in the fight against Alzheimer's disease, thanks to genetics.
A recent collaboration between Boston University School of Public Health and the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health has identified several genetic variants that may influence the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. This joint effort marks a further step towards understanding the biological mechanisms that can be targeted by future treatments and prevention strategies.
Recent research has highlighted genetic variants associated with the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. These discoveries, obtained through whole-genome sequencing, open new avenues for treatment.
The study, published in the journal
Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, revealed 17 significant variants associated with the disease in five genomic regions thanks to whole-genome sequencing.
These findings highlight the utility of whole-genome sequencing data in uncovering the ultimate causes and risk factors of Alzheimer's disease. Whole-genome sequencing provides an overview of each base pair of the human genome, offering detailed information on the specific genetic changes that may contribute to the risk of or protection against Alzheimer's disease.
The research also emphasizes the importance of diversity in genetic studies. By including participants from different backgrounds, the study was able to identify new genetic variants associated with the risk of Alzheimer's disease in already known genomic regions and to examine whether these associations are common across different populations.
The population-specific results focus on sub-groups of European, African American, and Latino ancestry, as well as a multi-population meta-analysis. Researchers hope to examine the population-specific variants identified in larger samples in future studies, as well as explore how these variants affect biological functioning.