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Genetics

Alzheimer risk variants affect children's brains

Nature Reviews Neurology volume 12, page 494 (2016)Cite this article

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Polymorphisms in the apolipoprotein E gene APOE*ε influence the maturation of grey matter in children's brains, according to a new study. The findings demonstrate that APOE*ε genotype influences brain structure and function in both young and old age, and could help to predict susceptibility to cognitive dysfunction.

The APOE*ε4 allele is an established risk factor for Alzheimer disease (AD). Previous studies have indicated that APOE*ε genotype also affects brain structure and cognitive function in children, but the full effects remain unclear. In a new study, Linda Chang and colleagues set out to comprehensively assess the effects of APOE*ε2–4 polymorphisms on brain development and function in children.

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References

  1. Chang, L. et al. Gray matter maturation and cognition in children with different APOE ε genotypes. Neurology http://dx.doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000002939, (2016)

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  1. Ian Fyfe
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Fyfe, I. Alzheimer risk variants affect children's brains. Nat Rev Neurol 12, 494 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2016.115

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2016.115

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