New York, March 21 (IANS) – Researchers from Boston University School of Public Health and the University of Texas Health have discovered 17 new genetic variants that could increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The findings are crucial for future treatment and prevention strategies for the debilitating disease.
The team utilized whole genome sequencing to pinpoint the 17 significant variants associated with Alzheimer’s in five genomic regions. This breakthrough could aid in the discovery of rare and essential genes and variants.
According to study co-lead and corresponding author Chloe Sarnowski, Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at UTHealth, “By using whole genome sequencing in a diverse sample, we were able to not only identify novel genetic variants associated with Alzheimer’s disease risk in known genetic regions but also characterise whether the known and novel associations are shared across populations.”
In the study, researchers analyzed more than 95 million variants among 4,567 participants with or without the disease through whole genome sequencing.
Among the 17 significant variants identified, the KAT8 variant stood out as the most notable, being linked with Alzheimer’s disease in both single and rare variant analyses. Additionally, associations were found with several rare TREM2 variants as well.
This groundbreaking research has the potential to significantly impact the field of Alzheimer’s disease research and pave the way for enhanced treatment and prevention strategies in the future.
