Scientists at Vanderbilt University Medical Center geneticists unearthed mutations in older adults that might shield against Alzheimer’s disease and age-associated cognitive decline. They reached this conclusion after examining the genomes of so-called “supercentenarians,” meaning individuals over 80 years old who retain mental clarity and good recall.
In what is the largest study to date, researchers compared genetic information from 1.6 thousand “supercentenarians” with 17 thousand of their peers who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or exhibited typical age-related memory changes.
The analysis uncovered significant variations in the APOE gene, which has long been linked to dementia risk. “Supercentenarians” possessed the detrimental APOE4 mutation, which increases disease risk, 68% less frequently, and the protective APOE2 variant 28% more often compared to other healthy people of the same age.
“We managed to reveal how variations in the APOE gene affect the probability of becoming a long-liver with strong memory,” explained VUMC Associate Professor Leslie Grannor.
This finding confirms that continued investigation of the genomes of people resistant to age-related brain ailments could lead to the discovery of novel protective mechanisms and therapeutic targets capable of delaying or preventing dementia onset.
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