April 6, 2009

expert comments on research into brain activity in young adults carrying APOE4 genetic variant, as published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Researchers at the University of Oxford and Imperial College London have discovered that heightened activity in one part of the brain of young adults carrying a particular genetic variant may be an early indication of developing dementia in later life.

Dr Peter Nestor, Senior Research Associate, Dept. of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, said:

“The ApoE gene exists in different forms in the population. One type, ApoE4, is an established risk factor for development of Alzheimer’s disease in later life. It is critical to note though that ‘risk factors’ do not mean an individual is destined to a particular fate: not all people with ApoE4 develop Alzheimer’s disease nor does the absence of ApoE4 mean that someone will not develop the disease.

“The findings of this study are of considerable interest but should not be over-interpreted to mean that Alzheimer’s disease is already starting to develop in this young, healthy group of volunteers. The results do, however, serve to emphasize that normal genetic variations in the population can be associated with differences in how our brains achieve a particular goal. Whether or not the differences seen in those with ApoE4 can offer a clue to what makes some brains more likely to develop Alzheimer’s is a challenge for future studies.

“Before going down that path, though, these results first need to be replicated by independent groups to ensure their validity.”