Genetic Studies of Cognition and AD Risk
Genome-wide association studies of late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) have identified many risk variants. The lab has assessed the association of the top GWAS variants and the apolipoprotein ε4 (APOE ε4) allele with memory, as well as progression to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or LOAD (MCI/LOAD).
For this study, participants evaluated at Mayo Clinic's campuses in Minnesota and Florida were analyzed. They were assessed for associations of genetic variants with memory decline and for incident MCI/LOAD. Each variant was tested both individually and collectively using a single weighted risk score. The findings showed associations with a number of AD genetic risk factors.
Our laboratory is now analyzing the effect on cognition and cognitive decline using genetic risk factors and other multiomic measures in a similar fashion.
Related publications
- Pedraza O, Allen M, Jennette K, Carrasquillo MM, Crook J, Serie D, Pankratz VS, Palusak R, Nguyen T, Malphrus K, Ma L, Bisceglio G, Roberts RO, Lucas JA, Ivnik RJ, Smith GE, Graff-Radford NR, Petersen RC, Younkin SG, Ertekin-Taner N. Evaluation of memory endophenotypes for association with CLU, CR1, and PICALM variants in black and white subjects. Alzheimer's & Dementia. 2014;10(2):205.
- Carrasquillo MM, Crook JE, Pedraza O, Thomas CS, Pankratz VS, Allen M, Nguyen T, Malphrus K, Ma L, Bisceglio G, Roberts RO, Lucas JA, Smith GE, Ivnik RJ, Machulda MM, Graff-Radford NR, Petersen RC, Younkin SG, Ertekin-Taner N. Late-onset Alzheimer's risk variants in memory decline, incident mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiology of Aging. 2015;36(1):60.