A new study led by the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology will help researchers better understand the role genetics and lifestyle play in the development of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. The Huntsville-based institute is conducting the pilot study in partnership with Phenome Health and the Buck Institute for Research on Aging in the hopes of creating a new standard of care for those with the diseases or who are genetically predisposed to them.
According to HudsonAlpha, 200 healthy adults between the ages of 65 and 75 who have a close family member with dementia, but don’t have cognitive impairment themselves, will be the focus of the analysis. The study, referred to as HOPE AD (Healthy Outcomes through Phenomic Explorations for Alzheimer’s Disease), will utilize a “phenomic” approach—capturing data about participants’ health, environment, and lifestyle.
“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.”
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HudsonAlpha President Neil Lamb, PhD, expressed the importance of the work with Phenome and the Buck Institute.
“HudsonAlpha has long been a leader in genetics and genomics,” said Lamb. “HOPE AD represents an exciting next step: using that knowledge to inform care, empower participants, and extend the number of dementia-free years people can enjoy as they age. We’re proud to collaborate with Phenome Health and the Buck Institute on this innovative project.”
Jennifer Lovejoy, PhD, is leading Phenome Health’s efforts in the collaboration.
“We’re thrilled to collaborate with HudsonAlpha on this pilot,” said Jennifer Lovejoy, PhD, who is leading efforts in the collaboration for Phenome Health. “Combining HudsonAlpha’s deep expertise in genomics with our substantial experience in phenomic analysis and lifestyle behavior interventions could uncover actionable insights that lead to truly meaningful improvements in Alzheimer’s prevention.”
Enrollment for the study is open at the Smith Family Clinic for Genomic Medicine in Huntsville. Meagan Cochran, MS, CGC, the facility’s director and study co-investigator, stressed that HOPE AD is about much more than “biological data.”
“We also want to understand how knowing their risk affects people’s choices,” she said. “Do they feel more motivated to take action? That’s a crucial part of prevention that we hope this study will help answer.”
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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 participants will receive valuable 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
Individuals identified as having elevated risk will be invited to continue with the study through a year-long lifestyle intervention program. The program includes personalized coaching on several factors, including nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and cognitive engagement, all of which have evidence for reducing dementia risk. Researchers will also evaluate how these changes impact health over time.
While there is no known cure, research suggests combining early detection with lifestyle changes may reduce the risk or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
Austen Shipley is the News Director for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
