48 New Genetic Regions Linked to Alzheimer's Disease Risk Identified

November 1, 2026 22:48

An international team of scientists has identified 127 regions of DNA associated with the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, 48 of which had not previously been linked to the condition. The findings of the largest genetic study of Alzheimer's disease to date, published in the journal Nature, could help identify new directions for developing treatments.

Researchers led by specialists from the University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital analyzed genetic data from approximately 2.8 million people, including 183,620 patients with Alzheimer's disease. A total of 30 research groups took part in the study.

The findings confirmed the important role of microglia, the brain's immune cells, which remove damaged cellular structures and potentially harmful substances. The scientists also identified genetic associations with processes involved in the processing of amyloid, a protein that can accumulate in the brain in Alzheimer's disease, and the repair of nerve cells. In addition, the study pointed to the possible involvement of specific types of neurons and astrocytes, which support the functioning of nervous tissue.

The authors also revised estimates of the contribution of common genetic variants to differences in disease risk between individuals. According to their calculations, these variants account for approximately 16% of the variation in risk, nearly three times higher than previous estimates. This does not mean that genes determine a 16% probability of developing the disease in any given individual: age, environmental factors and other influences also affect the risk.

The researchers hope to use these findings to further investigate the mechanisms underlying the disease and identify potential targets for new drugs. However, the genetic associations identified do not, by themselves, prove that targeting the corresponding genes or biological processes will lead to safe and effective treatments.