Genetics and Alzheimer’s Disease

Genetics may play a much larger role in causing Alzheimer’s disease than what was once thought.

In fact, a recent study from University College London indicates that one particular gene may be behind the majority of Alzheimer’s cases.

The gene is called APOE. And this new study states that more than 90 percent of Alzheimer’s cases are somehow linked to this single gene.

The exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is unknown. However, researchers have long believed that there are a combination of factors that contribute to it. Lifestyle, environment, and genetics have long been regarded as the main culprits of this. This research points to the fact that genetics does play a large role in who is at risk of developing Alzheimer’s and who is not.

Researchers have known for quite some time that APOE is linked to Alzheimer’s, but that relationship was not fully understood. Now, the team believes that they have a deeper understanding of how APOE truly impacts the likelihood that someone might develop this.

There are three common forms of APOE, known as alleles. These are named ε2, ε3, and ε4. There are two pairs of the APOE found in every human, for a total of 6 combinations. By looking at research dating back to the 1990s, the researchers observed that people that had one or two pair of the ε4 variant had a much higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s compared to those that did not have pairs of the ε4 variant. They also found that people that carried the ε2 variant had a lower risk of developing the disease than those with the ε3 variant. The ε4 variant has long been known as harmful, Previously, the ε3 variant was viewed as neutral, but current research no longer supports this line of thinking.

The University College London team published their findings in the journal, npj Dementia. The hope is that a better understanding of the genetics and root causes of Alzheimer’s disease will lead to better prevention and treatment of this in the future. There’s no cure for Alzheimer’s disease at this time, but the more researchers learn about it, the closer we get to helping those impacted by dementia live a higher quality of life.

While this research could spell hope for seniors at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia in the future, but if you have a loved one that is suffering from this right now, future prospects of better treatment don’t bring much comfort.

That’s why finding the right senior care now is so important. The team here at Paradise In-Home Care can help. We specialize in memory care, in-home care, and senior care in general. And we offer a free consultation session that’s specially designed to help get you pointed in the right direction. There’s no cost on your end. All it takes is a phone call to get started.

What are you waiting for? Give us a call today to talk to a professional caregiver and get the specific advice you need to find the ideal senior care for your family’s unique set of circumstances.