The largest genetic study of Alzheimer’s disease so far has found 48 new regions of DNA linked to the disease. The study, published in the journal Nature, pooled data from about 2.8 million people, including 183,620 people with Alzheimer’s.
What the study found
The work was led by researchers at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands, with the University of Oslo in Norway, and drew on data from 30 research groups, including biobanks and industry partners. The team found 127 regions of DNA linked to Alzheimer’s risk. Of these, 48 had not been linked to the disease before.
Many of the genetic signals point to microglia, the brain’s immune cells, which clear away debris. Other signals point to how the brain processes amyloid, nerve cell repair and the upkeep of myelin, the protective coating around nerves.
Key facts
- About 2.8 million people studied, 183,620 of them with Alzheimer’s.
- 127 DNA regions linked to Alzheimer’s risk; 48 are new.
- Common genetic variants explain about 16% of the differences in risk across a population, up from an earlier estimate of about 5%. Much of this rise comes from a method that better accounts for the APOE gene.
- Dementia cases worldwide are projected to pass 150 million by 2050.
What it does not mean
The researchers say these findings are a starting point. They do not prove that targeting any one gene will lead to a treatment. Co-first author Emil Uffelmann told Newsweek that genetic risk prediction “remains a research tool, not a clinical one.” The 16% figure describes populations, not individuals. Age, environment and other factors also matter, and no genetic test can yet tell you whether you will develop Alzheimer’s.
What this means for older Indians and families
Dementia is already a large challenge in India. The LASI-DAD study estimated that 7.4% of Indians aged 60 and above, about 8.8 million people, live with dementia.
The authors have called for more research in underrepresented populations. Better genetic data from Indian families could make future findings more useful here.
For now, families do not need to buy genetic tests to check Alzheimer’s risk. If an older relative has memory problems that affect daily life, the best step is to see a doctor, ideally a neurologist or geriatrician.
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Sources: CNCR, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 28 October 2026; Nature (study); Newsweek, 3 November 2026; Fogarty International Center, NIH (LASI-DAD estimate).
This article is for information only and is not medical advice.
