Analysis of 700 subjects from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative has revealed a genetic mutation (rs4728029) that’s associated with people who develop Alzheimer’s pathology but don’t show clinical symptoms in their lifetime. The gene appears to be related to an inflammatory response in the presence of phosphorylated tau. In other words, some people’s brains react to phosphorylated tau with a ‘bad’ inflammatory response, while others don’t.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-05/vumc-vs050214.php
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(2014). Genetic modification of the relationship between phosphorylated tau and neurodegeneration.
Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.