'Longevity gene' may protect the brain from Alzheimer's by boosting DNA repair, study finds

Caghan Kizil, PhD, MSc, an associate professor of neurological sciences at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, recently received a research grant from the American Brain Foundation to study the APOE4 gene, a genetic variant linked to a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

In a separate study, another research team looked at a different version of the same gene, called APOE2. Their findings suggest that, unlike APOE4, APOE2 may help protect the brain and may even support recovery.

“This study goes beyond the long-known observation that APOE2 is linked to longevity and a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and aims to explain why this protection may occur,” said Dr. Kizil, who was not involved in the study. “What I find especially interesting is the idea that Alzheimer’s may partly reflect the brain losing its ability to stay resilient with age,” he added. “Growing evidence suggests that APOE-related risk is not only about amyloid buildup, but also about how aging, inflammation, blood vessel health, and the brain’s repair systems work together over time.” [read more]

Source: Fox News Digital