A mutation in the Presenilin 1 gene is known to cause elevated levels of amyloid plaques and inflammation in those who had early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Cure Alzheimer’s Fund created a consortium to develop models of familial Alzheimer’s disease using stem cells that included the Presenilin 1 gene; this resulted in the identification of 14 other genes that potentially have a link to Alzheimer’s disease. These genes are targets for further study and may help the scientific community to understand other elements of the pathology of the disease such as inflammation.

Sam Gandy, M.D., Ph.D., Mount Sinai