Key points from article :
Researchers studied centenarians with sharp minds to identify genetic factors that protect against Alzheimer's disease.
Centenarians found to have a low risk of Alzheimer's disease compared to control groups.
"Next to a healthy lifestyle, your genome also plays a substantial role in maintaining cognitive health while we age,” Henne Holstege, corresponding author.
Identified protective genetic variations in genes like ANKH, GRN, TMEM106B, and SORT1.
These genes are involved in brain health, immune function, and cellular waste management.
Maintaining these genetic functions is essential for cognitive health in old age.
Study’s participants were primarily of European descent, which might limit the applicability of the findings to other populations.
The long-term goal is to identify molecular pathways to help people achieve healthy cognitive aging.
Study by Amsterdam University Medical Center, published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
