Scientists have identified a gene that may play a central role in Alzheimer’s disease across different populations, offering new insight into why the condition develops and how it might be treated in the future. The research, led by scientists at Boston University School of Medicine, analyzed brain tissue from hundreds of donors and found a strong genetic signal associated with the disease.
The study focused on African American individuals, a group historically underrepresented in genetic research despite facing a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease. By examining post-mortem brain samples, researchers discovered that the gene ADAMTS2 was consistently more active in people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s compared to those without the disease. Notably, the same gene also emerged as a leading signal in a separate study involving White individuals.
To reach these conclusions, the research team analyzed gene activity in brain tissue taken from more than 200 African American donors, including individuals with confirmed Alzheimer’s pathology and healthy controls. Gene expression analysis allowed scientists to observe which genes were more active in diseased brains, helping pinpoint biological processes linked to neurodegeneration.
What makes this finding particularly important is its consistency across populations. Previous Alzheimer’s genetics studies often identified risk factors that differed by ancestry, limiting their broader application. The repeated appearance of ADAMTS2 in independent datasets suggests that it may be part of a shared biological mechanism underlying Alzheimer’s disease, regardless of racial background.
Researchers believe this discovery could help narrow the gap in understanding Alzheimer’s risk among African Americans while also advancing overall knowledge of the disease. By highlighting a gene that appears to act across populations, the study strengthens the case for developing treatments that target common disease pathways rather than population-specific factors alone.
The findings were published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, the journal of the Alzheimer’s Association. Scientists emphasize that further research is needed to understand exactly how ADAMTS2 contributes to brain changes seen in Alzheimer’s, but the gene now stands out as a promising target for future therapeutic research.