Alzheimer’s Related Gene Variant Evident in Children

A gene variant whose carriers are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than other people may show its effects on the brain and thinking in childhood, according to a study in Neurology online.

“Studying these genes in young children may ultimately give us early indications of who may be at risk for dementia in the future and possibly even help us develop ways to prevent the disease from occurring or to delay the start of the disease,” said Dr. Linda Chang, study author who works at the University of Hawaii.

The study found that children with the certain variant had a smaller hippocampus, which is a region of the brain affecting memory. The findings reflect the smaller volume and steeper decline of the size of the hippocampus in older adults experiencing cognitive impairments, according to Chang.

Source: http://www.argentum.org/News/5098/Alzheimers%2DRelated%2DGene%2DVariant%2DEvident%2Din%2DChildren