Genetic Mutation Protects Against Alzheimer's Disease

On a more global level, the discovery of a rare variant with a modest risk effect has significance for geneticists searching for the "missing heritability," a vexing problem that speaks to the fact that for many diseases, common genetic variation does not explain as much of the genetic basis of disease as had been hoped. Using these genome-level strategies to discover other rare variants holds new promise in filling these gaps in our understanding.

Dr. Taylor is associate professor in the department of internal medicine and director of adult clinical genetics at the University of Colorado at Denver, Aurora. He reported having no conflicts of interest.