Alzheimer’s gene already shrinking brain by age of three
Mar 29, 2018

Paula Montgomery
Core Spirit member since Dec 24, 2020
Reading time 2 min.

The Alzheimer’s gene, which dramatically raises the risk of developing dementia, is already affecting carriers by the age of three, shrinking their brains and lowering cognition, a new study suggests.

Children who carry the APOEe4 gene mutation , which raises the chance of dementia by 15 fold, were found to do less well in memory, attention and function tests.

Areas of the brain affected by Alzheimer’s disease, such as the hippocampus and parietal gyri, were also found to be up to 22 per cent smaller in volume.

Around 14 per cent of people carry the APOEe4 mutation. The research is the first to show that genetic changes which can lead to Alzheimer’s are already affecting the brain extremely early in life.

Scientists from the University of Hawaii, Yale and Harvard say screening for the gene could help doctors identify which children could benefit from early interventions, such as educational help, preventative treatments, health monitoring and increased exercise.

The study involved 1,187 youngsters between the age of three and 20 who took part in genetic tests and brain scans as well as undertaking a series of tests to measure their thinking and memory skills.

The children had no brain disorders or other problems which might have affected their brain development.

Lead author Dr Linda Chang said: “The APOEe4 carriers show the strongest effects, with negative influences on brain structures and cognition mirroring those in elderly participants and patients with Alzheimer’s disease.”

There are currently 850,000 people living with dementia in Britain which is due to rise to one million by 2025 and two million by 2050. The most common kind of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. But scientists are still struggling to determine what causes the condition, and despite 412 drug trials, nothing has been shown to combat the disease so far.

The researchers think that the APOEe4 gene slows brain development and could be a target for future medication. APOEe4 is also known to make people more susceptible to disease and some scientists think that Alzheimer’s could be triggered by an infection and might be fought with antibiotics.

Ian Le Guillou, research officer at Alzheimer’s Society said: “These interesting findings suggest that people with the APOEe4 gene - which increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease - have differences in their brains from childhood.

“However, we need to be cautious in interpreting these results as although this study involved over 1,000 children, there were less than 30 in the highest-risk group. We would need to see these results replicated in a larger group, as well as having longer term follow-ups to better understand how the changes in the brain progress with age.

“Everyone’s brain is slightly different and the trends found here could only be seen by taking the average across many people.

“Although people with the gene are at an increased risk of dementia, there are still things they can do to lower their chances of developing the condition. This includes taking regular exercise, not smoking and keeping their blood pressure in check.”

Dr Simon Ridley, Director of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, added: “This research suggests that the APOEe4 risk gene may have an impact on the brain from childhood, but as the study only presents one snapshot in time, it’s hard to know how these brain differences in childhood may play out as these children develop during their lives.”

The research was published in the journal Neurology.

by Sarah Knapton For The Telegraph


Leave your comments / questions for this practitioner

To write a comment please
or
Services
Category filter
Concern filter
Type filter
Sort
 

All categories

Personality Psychology
$80 USD
therapy session
Individual Counselling Session (60 minutes)

I offer a compassionate counselling service that is unique to every woman and her situation. Allowing you to feel heard and understood in a safe environment free from shame and judgement.

My aim is to support and empower women through periods of change and emotionally difficult times. Empowering women to navigate their life and the mess that it can sometimes feel like it’s in with insight, respect, hope and strength.

I believe you have the desire and the capacity to grow towards fulfilling your true potential, and that you’re the expert on your own life. Counselling is a way of assisting you to identify and define your emotional issues and to help you better understand yourself.

Therefore, I don’t give advice. I will work with you to help you understand yourself more fully and to find your own inner resources. With greater self-awareness and trust in yourself, I hope that you will be able to make constructive changes, leading to a more satisfying and meaningful life.

I apply an integrated approach to counselling, meaning that I combine different but complementary counselling methods that have been taken from different models of therapy. These are Person-Centred Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Solution Focused Therapy. Using an integrative approach allows me to be flexible in providing a service that suits your situation.

I offer face-to-face and online individual counselling sessions, allowing women to openly talk about their emotional challenges.

Hayley Fualau
Personality Psychology
$150 USD
therapy session
Individual Psychotherapy

Are you seeking a therapist that sees you as a whole person - mind, body, and spirit, in the context of your lived experience and culture? Do you need someone to meet you where you are, without assumptions? Are you seeking help in your personal growth and healing?

All clinicians and support options are not the same. I am guided by a core philosophy that all human beings have an innate desire for balance, healing, and growth. Your definition of these concepts and your journey to achieve them is unique to you, your child, or your family.

Contact me to discuss scheduling.

Maybe you have specific complaints, stressors, or goals that you would like help navigating; perhaps you feel ready to strive for the next level of personal growth. Holistic Psychotherapy can offer the comprehensive tools and support you need to overcome personal challenges, interpersonal challenges, and to reach a healthier state of being. With the help and support of your therapist, you will be able to utilize your innate strengths to find yourself reaching the goals and understanding you seek in a safe and nonjudgmental space.

Stacey Wright
Personality Psychology
$750 USD
healing session
FALLING OUT OF LOVE

Finding it hard to get over that last relationship? Loving someone who is bad for you? These 4 hourly sessions will help place you into a mentally healthier place leaving behind the negative relationship and its lingering thoughts.

Jane Nash
Personality Psychology
$15 USD
therapy session
Counselling

Facing difficulty in concentrating, relationships, academics, emotional concerns, stress etc. Counselling helps resolve these by aiding you with the necessary skills and cope up with these. Get in touch with our expert and professional counsellors/ psychologists.

Emotional well being helpline

Related Articles

View All
Personality Psychology
Jan 26 2021
How to deal with Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Narcissist is one of the most effective insults, and in our current, chaotic world it’s seeing a lot of use. As unity becomes more important, what could be more damning than insisting someone only cares about themselves? Even more so, that they only love …

Demi Powell
Personality Psychology
Mar 29 2018
Frankincense is a Powerful Psychoactive Antidepressant, Scientists Discover

Burning the resin of a Boswellia tree as an incense has been a component in religious and cultural ceremony for milennia, for it is said that its aroma contributes to spiritual exaltation. Also known as frankincense and olibanum, Boswellia resin has been …

Grace Armstrong
Personality Psychology
Mar 29 2018
Why Harvard is investing millions in happiness

Money can’t buy happiness, but it can help buy a happiness center.

Harvard University just launched a new Center for Health and Happiness, which was established by a $21 million initial gift. The center will focus on the study of psychological well-being…

Paula Montgomery
Personality Psychology
Mar 29 2018
Getting Annoyed By Chewing Noises? You Are Not Alone… And You May Have Misophonia

Do you get unfathomably angry at the sound of people doing the following: Drinking, chewing, crunching, gulping, nail biting, slurping, swallowing, clicking, breathing, sniffling, wheezing, whistling, finger tapping…the list goes on. For some people readi…

Grace Armstrong
Registered individuals enjoy all the possibilities of Core Spirit.