Caitlin Munger, Brigham Young University
Biology
Alzheimer’s is a fatal, non-treatable neurodegenerative disease and the most common cause of dementia. While no one gene has been found to determine the development of Alzheimer’s, past studies have established a strong hereditary influence on Alzheimer’s. So far, only 5 genes have been found which replicably contribute to the genetic risk of developing Alzheimer’s. However, the gene for Chlolesteryl Ester Transfer Protein (CETP) has been identified as a possible new contributor to the genetic risk factor. In order to test this association we obtained data on over 4000 subjects studied in the Cache County Study on Memory, Health and Aging over a 15-year period. This data included DNA samples, cognitive decline rates and incidence of dementia–particularly Alzheimer’s Disease. DNA samples were SNP genotyped using quantitative PCR. The SNP genotypes and corresponding phenotypes for each subject were then analyzed for association usingmixed linear models and for survival, or the amount of time until the disease appeared, using Cox proportional hazard models. We found a correlation between the V405I SNP and a decreased rate of cognitive decline. We found that for each additional G the rate of decline decreased by 0.6 points per year on the MMSE test. The identification of CETP as a player in the genetic risk for Alzheimer’s and dementia will provide much needed information on the genetic factors involved in dementia and allow for possible future therapeutic targets.