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BOSTON (WBZNewsRadio) - A new study from Mass General Brigham reveals genetics are simply only one part of the equation when it comes to an individual's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. What's more, their findings highlight how educational attainment, or furthering one's schooling, can help protect against the disease, despite any genetic predisposition.
The research focused on a group of people who all carry a mutation, that has been proven to be a predisposition for an Alzheimer's diagnosis. Researchers said the mutation, known as PSEN1 E280A, has a median age of 49 years old for the onset of dementia, which can lead to Alzheimer's. Through their latest research, scientists have been able to identify another mutation, APOE e4, that puts the patient at an even higher risk.
The study also looked specifically at the impact of educational attainment on those carrying the PSEN1 E290A mutation. They found patients who furthered their education and participated in more years schooling through out their lives, were able to preserve their cognitive ability, even with the higher genetic risk factor.
“Higher educational attainment may have a protective effect against cognitive impairment, even in the presence of strong genetic risk factors,” said corresponding author Yakeel Quiroz, PhD, a clinical neuropsychologist and neuroimaging researcher, director of the Familial Dementia Neuroimaging Lab in the Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital. “Despite the additional risk conferred by APOEe4, the strongest genetic risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease, our results suggest that educational attainment may be a critical mechanism of cognitive reserve in familial Alzheimer’s disease.”
When all is said and done, researchers found despite any genetic predisposition, there are a plethora of other factors that may influence a person's cognitive decline and risk for dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
"Together, our results highlight the importance of studying additional genetic and environmental risk factors in ADAD populations, with critical implications for future disease prevention and interventions." Researchers said.
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