“A GENE variant that ups your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease in old age may not be all bad. It seems that young people with the variant tend to be smarter, more educated and have better memories than their peers.
The discovery may improve the variant’s negative image (see “Yes or no”). It also suggests why the variant is common despite its debilitating effects in old age. Carriers of the variant may have an advantage earlier in life, allowing them to reproduce and pass on the variant before its negative effects kick in. “From an evolutionary perspective it makes sense,” says Duke Han at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.
The “allele” in question is epsilon 4, a version of the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE). Having one copy increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s at least fourfold compared with people who have other forms of the gene. A person with two copies has up to 20 times the risk.”
Read more at New Scientist
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Wow… Thats new. If only if it doesnt have the negative effects
Reminds me of the school rumour of nits only liking those with clean hair; only less amusing…
Amazing how quickly these things turn around. At a conference of the Alzheimer’s Society just a couple of years back they were saying all the pointers were environmental, not genetic.
(#ohbuggerthatswhatgotmynan)
IT IS ALL BAD!!!
Derren been tested yet? Sure he will plan to maintain that beautiful brain right to the end. Perhaps future research may suggest memory will improve with age for non sufferers. An intelligent 80 year old Beckham?
I would say it’s the same genes for Alzheimer as it is for Asperger syndrome. At least Asperger and Alzheimer seems to go hand in hand, according to my experience.
In a more logic way I’d say the less you’ve used certain brain systems the more likely you’ll develop alzheimier, trigger it. Although I can see where the other thoughts come from. As it is with many body parts, the more used in early life .. the less efficient they might become later on, although you will have to have used them in an extreme way (extreme sports is damaging as we know, but normal sport routines are healthy ..).
Just start smoking … that seems to lower the risk on alzheimer … and chewing gum as well … (I’m so lucky ..).
I do find Alzheimer and any form of mental degeneration in a more extreme way one of the worst things ever. You loose a person. The connection with that person him/herself. If you connected to the right one in him/her that is.
Maybe the oxytocin might contribute here too…who knows what the ´chemical-sniffer´ (see older article) is good for afterall.