Escaping Alzheimers
Doug Whitney's family history is marked by a devastating genetic trait: many of his relatives have a mutation that leads to early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, an aggressive form of the condition that typically appears in people's 40s and 50s. This form of Alzheimer’s disease has claimed the lives of his mother, older brother, and over a dozen aunts, uncles, and cousins. In 2011, Whitney discovered that he too carried this mutation. However, at the age of 60, an age by which many of his relatives had already shown symptoms, Whitney’s memory was unaffected. He is now in his early 70s and continues to show a lack of symptoms. Scientists are keenly interested in his case, as understanding why Whitney has been spared the effects of this mutation could reveal new insights into protective factors that mitigate or neutralize the impact of Alzheimer’s disease.