ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
Understanding Alzheimer's Disease and the Importance of Prevention
Alzheimer's Disease (AD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, is one of the most common forms of dementia affecting the elderly. Characterized by memory loss, cognitive decline, and behavioral changes, AD imposes a significant burden on individuals, families, and healthcare systems. With millions of new cases diagnosed each year, understanding and preventing Alzheimer's Disease is crucial for mitigating its impact.
The Multifactorial Nature of Alzheimer's Disease
The development of Alzheimer's Disease is influenced by a complex interplay of genetic and non-genetic factors. This multifaceted etiology means that both inherited and environmental aspects contribute to the risk and progression of the disease.
Key non-genetic factors implicated in Alzheimer's Disease include age, lifestyle, and comorbid health conditions. Modifiable lifestyle factors such as diet, physical activity, and cognitive engagement are known to influence the risk and progression of the disease.
Classically, Alzheimer's Disease has been associated with certain monogenic factors, notably the APOE gene, particularly its ε4 variant. However, it's increasingly recognized that polygenic factors, involving multiple genes, also play a significant role in disease risk.
The Science of PRS and Risk Assessment
The integration of PRS in assessing the risk of Alzheimer's Disease offers several benefits. PRS, which considers the cumulative effect of multiple genetic variants, has been shown to effectively predict the lifetime risk of AD development (Leonenko et al., 2019). Notably, PRS approaches have been adapted for diverse populations, improving prediction accuracy beyond European ancestries (Sariya et al., 2021). Moreover, recent studies have demonstrated the utility of PRS in identifying individuals at high risk of cognitive impairment and AD (Pither et al., 2021), suggesting its potential in clinical settings for early intervention strategies.
Conclusion
Integrating Polygenic Risk Scores into the risk assessment of Alzheimer's Disease offers a promising approach for early identification and potential prevention strategies, enhancing our ability to combat this debilitating condition.
Presently, the utilization of a PRS in addition to APOE4 could be used to enhance genetic risk stratification as it provides additional genetic information and greater AD prediction ability.
Stocker et al., 2021, PMID: 32404947