A rare genetic resilience to Alzheimer’s disease has been identified in a second patient, a new study suggests. Researchers have found a patient with a genetic predisposition for developing early-onset Alzheimer’s who remained cognitively intact until his late 60s.
According to the study, a series of tests and analyses revealed a new genetic variant (differences in DNA between people) that provides protection from the disease. The variant occurs in a different gene than in a case from the same family reported in 2019, but points to a common disease pathway, the study suggests.
The findings also identify a region of the brain that may provide an ideal treatment target in the future, according to an international team led by investigators from two Mass General Brigham hospitals in America – Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Mass Eye and Ear. The researchers suggest the findings could open a door for the prevention and treatment of incurable diseases.
