Genetic variant that protects against Alzheimer’s symptoms discovered

BOSTON (Boston Herald/TNS) – Researchers have made another breakthrough in their effort to help Alzheimer’s patients, as Boston scientists reported they have found a new genetic variant that protects against Alzheimer’s disease symptoms.

Meanwhile, other researchers in the city recently discovered how the FDA-approved Alzheimer’s drug Lecanemab, sold under the brand name Leqembi, slows cognitive decline, and the FDA gave the green light for a drug to treat agitation symptoms that are associated with dementia.

Mass General Brigham investigators on

Monday said they identified what’s causing Alzheimer’s, and also what protects against the disease, helping pave the way for future treatments.

The researchers studied a patient with a genetic predisposition for early-onset Alzheimer’s disease who remained cognitively intact for more than two decades beyond the expected age of memory impairment.

“The genetic variant we have identified points to a pathway that can produce extreme resilience and protection against Alzheimer’s disease symptoms,” said Joseph Arboleda-Velasquez, an associate scientist at Mass Eye and Ear.

In other Alzheimer’s research, Brigham and Women’s Hospital researchers have revealed the structure of the therapeutic target of Lecanemab, an FDA-approved drug for the treatment of Alzheimer’s.

“For the first time, we describe the structure of a special type of amyloid beta plaque protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease progression, revealing the identity of the enemy,” said Dennis Selkoe, co-director of the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

“These findings are extremely timely as we make key strides in developing treatments that can reduce cognitive decline,” Selkoe added.