The article that I chose to review from The Virginian-Pilot magazine was an article about a gene that could be related to Alzheimer’s. In the beginning, the author talked about how a specific gene called APOE4 has been one of the top genes associated with research for people with Alzheimer’s. However, recently, some scientists have suggested that people with two copies of this gene may be more predisposed to having the disease than others. These scientists saw that in patients with two copies of the APOE4 gene that they can develop symptoms between seven to ten years prior than patients who only have one copy of the gene. The only genetic quality thought to have been passed down in relation to Alzheimer’s were genes found in younger patients who were diagnosed with the disease, however, now some research is showing that the double copy may increase the chance of developing Alzheimer’s.

Some of the genes thought to be associated with early Alzheimer’s are due to genetic mutations or even in some people who have down syndrome. 

Ultimately, researchers had found that the two copies of the gene caused an increased growth of fluid in the brain known as amyloid in patients while those with only one copy did not show this increase in brain fluid. This caused the scientists to believe that the APOE4 gene could be passed down from generation to generation, especially since they have found people with two copies of the gene.

In a peer reviewed article published to the National Library of Medicine, there was slight mention of two copies of the APOE4 gene being found in some patients. However, most of the articles that I came across did not mention trials where they studied those with two copies of the APOE4 gene. This can be due to the newspaper article being published earlier this year and also due to the fact that there is most likely still more research being done on people who have two copies of the gene and how that correlates with Alzheimer’s disease. In the clinical trial of the article I found that talked about evaluating patients with two copies of the gene, researchers gathered patients that were homozygous for the APOE4 gene and saw that there was an increase in amyloid fluid in the brain which can be lethal. This supports the article posted to The Virginian-Pilot in that the gene has been seen with high prevalence of amyloid brain fluid, however, not many peer reviewed articles have been published to concretely say that two copies of the gene increases the chances of developing the disease. With that in mind, there still needs to be more research done to conclude whether double copies of the gene is actually genetic or not, and what the implications of those findings could mean for many families.

References:

Abushakra, S. et al. Clinical Effects of Tramiprosate in APOE4/4 Homozygous Patients with Mild Alzheimer’s Disease Suggest Disease Modification Potential. J Prev Alzheimers Dis 4(3). doi: 10.14283/jpad.2017.26 (2017).

Neergaard, Lauren. (2024, May 6). A gene long thought to just raise the risk for Alzheimer’s may cause some cases. The Virginian-Pilot.