Alzheimer’s disease robs millions of people of their memories, independence, and connection to the people they love. Families often watch this loss unfold without clear answers about why it happens or how to stop it. Although scientists have identified many genes linked to Alzheimer’s disease risk, much of the most important biology may still be hidden from view. This project is designed to uncover those hidden clues. Using advanced long-read DNA and RNA sequencing technologies, the team will study brain tissue from people with and without Alzheimer’s to find overlooked genetic changes, changes in gene activity, and chemical signals that may help explain how the disease begins and progresses. They will also test whether a rare hidden mutation in the CR1gene, previously discovered by their team, raises Alzheimer’s disease risk in a large national dataset. By revealing genetic changes that are more directly connected to disease, this work could open the door to new treatment targets and bring us closer to earlier, more personalized ways to diagnose and treat Alzheimer’s disease. Most importantly, it could help move us toward a future where fewer families have to experience the heartbreak of this disease.
