A Genetic Cause of Alzheimer Disease: Mechanistic Insights from Down Syndrome

Overview

Journal Nat Rev Neurosci

Specialty Neurology

Date 2015 Aug 6

PMID 26243569

Citations 264

Authors

Frances K Wiseman

Tamara Al-Janabi

John Hardy

Annette Karmiloff-Smith

Dean Nizetic

Victor L J Tybulewicz

Elizabeth M C Fisher

Andre Strydom

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Down syndrome, which arises in individuals carrying an extra copy of chromosome 21, is associated with a greatly increased risk of early-onset Alzheimer disease. It is thought that this risk is conferred by the presence of three copies of the gene encoding amyloid precursor protein (APP)--an Alzheimer disease risk factor--although the possession of extra copies of other chromosome 21 genes may also play a part. Further study of the mechanisms underlying the development of Alzheimer disease in people with Down syndrome could provide insights into the mechanisms that cause dementia in the general population.

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