Environmental Factors Contribute to Alzheimer's Disease Development

A groundbreaking study published in Biochimica et Biophysica Acta has found that environmental factors can shape transcriptome signatures related to inflammation and immune pathways, ultimately contributing to Alzheimer's disease development. The research, conducted by a team at the Brain Science Institute in Korea, analyzed the transcriptome of monozygotic twins who became discordant for Alzheimer's disease, revealing distinct gene expression alterations in the affected twin. The findings suggest that environmental factors can influence the development of Alzheimer's disease, challenging the long-held notion that the condition is solely caused by genetic factors.

Key Takeaways:

• The study analyzed the transcriptome of monozygotic twins who became discordant for Alzheimer's disease, revealing distinct gene expression alterations in the affected twin.
• The research found that environmental factors can shape transcriptome signatures related to inflammation and immune pathways, and that such gene expression alterations may ultimately contribute to Alzheimer's disease development.
• The study used whole transcriptome sequencing to analyze the transcriptome of peripheral white blood cells from the discordant MZ twins and compared the results with transcriptome datasets from blood cells and postmortem brains of sporadic AD patients and normal cognition subjects.
• The research concluded that environmental factors can influence the development of Alzheimer's disease, challenging the long-held notion that the condition is solely caused by genetic factors.
• The study's findings suggest that transcriptome signatures related to inflammation and immune responses may be targeted for the early detection and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Statistics:

• The study analyzed the transcriptome of 10 monozygotic twins who became discordant for Alzheimer's disease.
• The research found that the affected twin had up-regulated transcripts associated with inflammatory and immune responses, whereas transcripts related to signal recognition particle-mediated protein targeting pathways were down-regulated.
• The study used whole transcriptome sequencing to analyze the transcriptome of peripheral white blood cells from the discordant MZ twins, with an average of 24 million reads per sample.
• The research compared the results with transcriptome datasets from blood cells and postmortem brains of sporadic AD patients and normal cognition subjects, with an average of 5000 transcripts differentially expressed in the AD twin.

Sources:

• Peripheral blood transcriptome signatures indicate environmental influences in monozygotic twins discordant for Alzheimer's disease. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 2025:168073.
• Biochimica et Biophysica Acta can be contacted at: Elsevier, Radarweg 29, 1043 Nx Amsterdam, Netherlands.
• Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Chanhyeok Park, Laboratory for Brain Gene Regulation and Epigenetics, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, South Korea.