Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026

Generalized Psychophysiological Interaction (PPI) Analysis of Memory Related Connectivity in Individuals at Genetic Risk for Alzheimer's Disease
Published on: November 14, 2017
Amerindian genetic ancestry protects against Alzheimer's disease
Andrea L Benedet1, Clayton F Moraes, Einstein F Camargos
1Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Médicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
Background:
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia worldwide, and bears remarkable evidence for a differential prevalence among continental populations. In this scenario, estimating ancestry proportions in recently admixed populations is a strategy that can help increasing knowledge about the genetic structure of this complex trait.
Aim/Methods:
Our purpose was to assess mean ancestry estimates for the three main parental contributors to the Brazilian contingent (European, African and Amerindian) using a panel of 12 ancestry informative markers. Outpatients with the late-onset form of AD (n = 120) were compared for ancestry levels with non-cognitively impaired subjects (n = 412) in the Midwest Brazil, controlling for classic clinical, social and anthropometric risk factors.
Results:
Our findings show a 3-fold greater genetic Amerindian content among control subjects compared to AD patients (p < 0.001).
Conclusion:
Our results suggest that the allelic architecture of Native Americans can confer protection against the onset of the disease.
More Related Videos
07:26High-resolution Melting PCR for Complement Receptor 1 Length Polymorphism Genotyping: An Innovative Tool for Alzheimer's Disease Gene Susceptibility Assessment
Published on: July 18, 2017
04:41Mapping Alzheimer's Disease Variants to Their Target Genes Using Computational Analysis of Chromatin Configuration
Published on: January 9, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...
Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology
Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment
Human Genetics
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
Principles of Pharmacogenetics: Types of Genetic Variants