HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) – HudsonAlpha launched a pilot study to see how genetics and lifestyle influence a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
The pilot study called HOPE AD (Healthy Outcomes through Phenomic Explorations for Alzheimer’s Disease) is enrolling participants at the Smith Family Clinic for Genomic Medicine in Huntsville.
The study aims to enroll 200 healthy adults between the ages of 65 and 75 who have a close family member (parent, sibling, or child) with dementia but don’t have cognitive impairment themselves.
Officials say eligible participants will be invited to an initial visit at the Smith Family Clinic, where they will undergo routine medical exams, including cognitive testing and wellness assessments, and family history/medical history overviews.
All eligible participants will receive clinical results, including:
- APOE status- a well-known gene linked to Alzheimer’s risk
- Polygenic risk score- an analysis that combines multiple genes to provide a more complete picture of disease risk
- pTau217 protein levels- a brain protein, or “biomarker,” known to be elevated in early Alzheimer’s disease
“Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias begin years before any symptoms appear, so waiting until someone shows signs of memory decline may be too late,” said Nick Cochran, PhD, HudsonAlpha Faculty Investigator and lead researcher at HudsonAlpha on the study. “This project is a chance to shift from reacting to preventing. We’re exploring whether giving people personalized health information can empower them to make changes that protect brain health.”
Organizers said the study uses a “phenomic” approach, capturing highly detailed data about participants’ health, environment, and lifestyle. They added that it helps researchers paint a fuller picture of dementia risk than genetics alone.
Results from the pilot will inform a more extensive study in the coming years.
To learn more about the Hope AD study and see if you’re eligible, click here or contact the Smith Family Clinic at 256-327-9640.
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