Key result
Whole-genome sequencing identified 13 new Alzheimer's disease candidate loci with rare variants (MAF ≤1%) implicating genes related to synaptic function and neuronal development.
Why the study?
While genome-wide association studies identified numerous AD-associated loci, whole-genome sequencing was needed to identify rare variants contributing to AD risk.
Does whole-genome sequencing identify novel rare variants associated with Alzheimer's disease risk?
Observational (n=3,916)
Does whole-genome sequencing identify novel rare variants associated with Alzheimer's disease risk?
Whole-genome sequencing identified 13 novel rare-variant loci associated with Alzheimer's disease, highlighting the role of synaptic function and neuronal development in AD pathogenesis.
INTRODUCTION: Genome-wide association studies have led to numerous genetic loci associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) now permits genome-wide analyses to identify rare variants contributing to AD risk. METHODS: We performed single-variant and spatial clustering-based testing on rare variants (minor allele frequency [MAF] ≤1%) in a family-based WGS-based association study of 2247 subjects from 605 multiplex AD families, followed by replication in 1669 unrelated individuals. RESULTS: We identified 13 new AD candidate loci that yielded consistent rare-variant signals in discovery and replication cohorts (4 from single-variant, 9 from spatial-clustering), implicating these genes: FNBP1L, SEL1L, LINC00298, PRKCH, C15ORF41, C2CD3, KIF2A, APC, LHX9, NALCN, CTNNA2, SYTL3, and CLSTN2. DISCUSSION: Downstream analyses of these novel loci highlight synaptic function, in contrast to common AD-associated variants, which implicate innate immunity and amyloid processing. These loci have not been associated previously with AD, emphasizing the ability of WGS to identify AD-associated rare variants, particularly outside of the exome.
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Prokopenko et al. (2021) conducted an observational in Alzheimer's disease (n=3,916). Rare genetic variants (MAF ≤1%) was evaluated on Identification of new AD candidate loci. Whole-genome sequencing identified 13 new Alzheimer's disease candidate loci with rare variants (MAF ≤1%) implicating genes related to synaptic function and neuronal development.
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