Alzheimer’s Genetics in African Americans
http://www.alz.org/research/science/alzheimers_disease_causes.asp#genetics
An article published in the April 10, 2013 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) contains the results of a meta-analysis of Alzheimer’s disease genetics data from nearly 6,000 African Americans age 60 years or older. In this analysis, Alzheimer’s disease in African Americans was most significantly associated with a well-known Alzheimer’s risk gene (APOE e4), and also with a gene that had been weakly associated with Alzheimer’s in people of European ancestry (ABCA7).
This is the largest Alzheimer’s genetics study in African Americans to date. Until now, data on thegenetics of Alzheimer’s in this population have been very limited. According to the Alzheimer’s Association Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, older African-Americans are two times more likely than older whites to have Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
A major finding is that one gene, ABCA7, is a much stronger Alzheimer’s genetic risk factor in African Americans than in individuals of European ancestry. These findings reinforce that the genetics of Alzheimer’s may vary among different populations, and therefore a variety of detection, treatment and prevention strategies will be needed.
The Alzheimer’s Association does not recommend genetic testing for this gene as we are not at the point where we can do an accurate risk assessment for those who have the gene. In addition, the study findings must be replicated to ensure validity.
Both APOE and ABCA7 are involved in lipid metabolism, which is how the body processes fats and related substances into biological membranes such as the cell membrane, or sources of energy. This study points more strongly to the involvement of lipid metabolism in Alzheimer’s risk. It also reinforces the notion that there are a variety of avenues through which we may be able to treat and/or prevent Alzheimer’s, such as: beta amyloid protein, tau protein, inflammation, lipid metabolism, and others.
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