Rare gene variant APOE3ch may hold clues to preventing Alzheimer’s disease

A group led by researchers from Harvard Medical School (MA, USA) and the University of Antioquia (Medellín, Colombia) have studied a unique case in which a woman genetically predisposed to early-onset Alzheimer’s disease exhibited symptoms 30 years later than expected. They propose that this is due to the presence of another gene mutation known as APOE3ch, which may offer protection against Alzheimer’s disease. The paper, published in Nature Medicine, suggests that further research into this protective mutation could open new avenues for the treatment and prevention of the neurodegenerative condition. The woman is a member of a Columbian family, of...