According to HealthDay (4/13, Norton), “people who carry a gene called APOE4 face an increased risk of Alzheimer’s,” an effect that “may be lessened if they” carry another gene called “klotho.” Investigators arrived at that conclusion after “collecting data on more than 20,000 people age 60 and up – some with Alzheimer’s, some with milder impairment, and some with intact thinking and memory skills.” The study revealed that “among APOE4 carriers, those who also had one copy of the protective klotho variant were 30% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s by age 80.” It does not appear, however, “that the klotho variant protected people who did not carry the APOE4 variant.” The findings were published online April 13 in JAMA Neurology. MedPage Today (4/13, George) also covers the study.
Related Links:
— “Certain Gene Might Help Shield At-Risk People From Alzheimer’s, “Amy Norton, HealthDay, April 13, 2020