Alzheimer’s Disease With Genetic Mutation Disrupts the Brain’s White Matter

Alzheimer’s disease with genetic mutation disrupts the structural integrity of the brain’s white matter even in cognitively normal individuals.

Alzheimer’s disease with genetic mutation disrupts the structural integrity of brain’s white matter even in cognitively normal individuals as per a study “Diffusion Tensor MRI Structural Connectivity and PET Amyloid Burden in Preclinical Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer Disease: The DIAN Cohort,” at the Radiological Society Of North America.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that leads to gradual memory loss and behavioral changes. It is characterized by the formation of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain tissues, years before the actual symptoms occur.

Alzheimer’s disease - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Stages, Types, Prevention, Prognosis & Treatment
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting memory and thinking and making the person increasingly dependent on others.

‘Alzheimer’s disease with genetic mutation disrupts the structural integrity of the brain’s white matter (as measured with an advanced MRI technique) even in cognitively normal individuals as compared to non-carriers. ’

AD affects one in nine people in the United States. One of the most significant genetic risk factors for AD is autosomal dominant Alzheimer disease (ADAD) mutation.

Earlier studies with an MRI technique – diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), have demonstrated that amyloid burden is inversely proportional to white matter structural connectivity in sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (99% of cases). The present study demonstrates such a link even in asymptomatic patients at-risk.

Structural Brain Changes in AD

Genetics of Alzheimer’s disease
There are numerous genes that have been discovered that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease and indicate increased risk, aiding genetic counseling and better care.

“It’s thought that the amyloid deposition in the gray matter could disrupt its function, and as a result the white matter won’t function correctly or could even atrophy,” says study lead author Jeffrey W. Prescott, M.D., Ph.D., a neuroradiologist at the MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.

The data from the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN) was used to compare cognitively normal 30 ADAD mutation carriers (mean age 34 years) with 38 non-carriers (mean age 37 years) to evaluate the consequent mutation changes in structural connectivity using brain MRI and DTI.

Genetic Similarity Between COVID-19 and Alzheimer�s Disease
Scientists have identified an anti-viral gene that affects the risk of both Alzheimer’s disease and severe COVID-19.

It was found that mutation carriers had lower structural connectivity in the frontoparietal control network. The study thereby suggests a potential role of MRI as an evaluation tool for structural brain changes in people at genetic risk for early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

“One potential clinical use of this study tool would be to add quantitative information to risk factors like family history and use that to help identify patients early, when they may benefit from treatment. But until we have an effective treatment, we will have to wait for that to be implemented,” says, Dr. Prescott.

New Link Between Diabetes and Alzheimer�s Disease Discovered
A new study explored the connection between diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease as the number of Alzheimer’s disease diagnoses rapidly rises with the increase in the incidence of diabetes and pre-diabetes.

Source-Medindia