These scientists found Alzheimer’s in their genes. Here’s what they did next : Shots

Three scientists have learned that they were carrying genes that considerably increase their risk of Alzheimer’s. Here’s how they serve the news and work to keep their brains healthy.

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Mohd Izzuan / Getty Images

People who inherit two copies of a variant of gene called APOE4 have 60% chance of developing Alzheimer’s at the age of 85.

In the United States, only about 2% to 3% of the United States has this genetic profile, and most of them do not know because they have never asked for genetic tests.

But three scientists are among those who have been tested and have learned that they are in the high -risk group. Now, everyone makes an effort to protect not only their own brain, but the brain of others with the genotype called apoe4-4.

June: from dismay to hope

A 23andme genetic test gave the bad news to June in 2023.

“I just felt like the end of the world,” said June, who asked to use only his first name for fear that making his genetic status public can affect his job or health insurance.

June was 57 years old when she discovered. As a person with a doctorate in biochemistry, she quickly understood what the results meant.

“People with our genotype are almost intended to get the disease,” she said. “We tend to obtain symptoms 7 to 10 years earlier than the general population, which means that I had about seven years left before I can get the disease.”

At first, June spent white nights online, reading university articles on Alzheimer’s disease and genetics. She even examined the suicide assisted by a doctor in an effort to ensure that she would not become a burden for her adult son.

Then she discovered online communities like Apoe4who included people with his genetic profile.

“I not only found useful information, I knotted deep friendships with people,” she said.

June learned the advantages of the brain of a Mediterranean diet, exercise, sleep and the reduction of stress. And while browsing the Alzheimer’s association Website, she discovered an intriguing research project at the University of California in San Diego.

It’s a continuous study To see if four months of vigorous mental and physical exercise can improve brain health in people aged 50 to 85.

Thus, in 2024, June ended up at a stationary bicycle at the UCSD playing an intense virtual reality game.

“You are cycling and you go through unknown land where you have to make turns,” she said. “So you really need to use your entire cognitive reserve.”

The study also involved a series of MRI scanners and cognitive tests.

“It has absolutely changed the situation because I have not only been able to look at my brain in action, but I was able to develop really effective strategies to keep my memory,” she said.

Since his participation in this test, June has argued for federal Alzheimer’s research funding and has urged Food and Drug Administration to consider the drugs that could benefit people who have the APOE4-4 genotype.

“I realize that being APOE4-4 is not the end of the world,” said June. “There are so many things we can do.”

David Watson: discovery of drugs

Many mental and physical activity could delay the symptoms of Alzheimer David WatsonNeuropsychologist and CEO of the Alzheimer’s research and treatment center in Florida.

But that is not enough for him and other people who carry two copies of the APOE4 variant.

“All these things that we can do preventively, they will be useful,” explains Watson. “But will they replace genetics? No, they are not unfortunately.”

Watson, now in the middle of the fifties, learned his genetic status about 25 years ago after seeing several family members develop Alzheimer’s disease.

He decided to devote his career to the management of clinical Alzheimer’s drugs in the hope of finding one that could protect his brain.

This effort has helped obtain two new drugs (LecanéMab And Donanemab) on the market. Unfortunately, Watson is not a good candidate for one or the other of the drugs.

LECANEMAB and DONANEMAB are both monoclonal antibodies which eliminate the sticky amyloid plates of the brain – a characteristic of Alzheimer’s. But in people with Watson’s genetic profile, drugs often cause swelling or dangerous bleeding in the brain.

“If someone is APOE-4-4, he should probably not make a monoclonal antibody targeting the amyloid,” he said. Or if they do it, it should be “very careful with additional advice,” he said.

So Watson focused on a experimental drug This specifically means for people with two copies of APOE4. The pill, which has been tested in some patients in its center, is designed to interrupt the process that leads to amyloid plates, rather than eliminating the plates that have already formed.

“This particular compound has in fact shown remarkable results,” explains Watson.

The drug, manufactured by Alzheon, has not caused swelling or brain bleeding. And this has prevented the brain areas associated with memory from shrinking the way they usually do in Alzheimer’s disease.

But in a major trialThe drug has not clearly shown that it could slow down cognitive decline in people who already had symptoms of Alzheimer’s.

Despite this, Watson thinks that the drug Alzheon has potential.

Some participants in the study on drugs seem to “hold theirs” instead of worsening, says Watson. And the blood tests of these participants suggest that “we really make a difference to keep the neurons alive,” he said.

Wendy Nelson: become very public

When a 23andme genetic test showed that Wendy Nelson wore two copies of the APOE4 variant, it has calm.

“I didn’t want to say to anyone at the start,” she said. “I really kept the results for me.”

Nelson, 54, is a doctoral student in the biotechnological industry. So she knew what the results meant. But she didn’t know what to do with them.

She was already participating in the kind of activities that could protect her brain. “I am a triathlete, hardcore hiker, I eat healthy,” she said.

Thus, when she learned of her status in 2022, the only changes she could make was to stop drinking and create a cholesterol medication.

Then, one of Nelson’s biotechnological contacts put it in contact with a podcast On dementia and brain health. They asked him to do an interview. She accepted.

“It was to the point where no one knew what my status was,” she said. “But in my mind, I thought, well, who will never see that?”

Many people, it turned out.

Soon, Nelson ended up on other podcasts, being interviewed by Reuters, and finally appeared on TV News. She started working with plea groups, especially APOE4-4 Alzheimer’s alliance.

Nelson says that being a public face for the APOE4-4 community gives him a chance to educate the public on a genetic profile that affects around 800,000 people in the United States, this also gives him a forum to defend more fundamental research on Alzheimer’s disease.

And barely a few weeks ago, Nelson had the chance to meet those responsible for the Food and Drug Administration to talk about Alzheimer’s drugs for people like her.

“I provided my seven minutes of testimony to the FDA, which was my plea for more options,” she said, “because I don’t feel like I am there at the moment.”

But Nelson, like June and Watson, says that people in the APOE4-4 community can change this by putting pressure for more research and a easier regulatory route for drugs that could help.