Hong Kong scientists have made an important breakthrough in the research of Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia.

A genetic variant that is more prevalent among Chinese, identified as TREM2 H157Y, was found to be associated with increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), more rapid clinical progression and severe brain volume loss, scientists revealed on Thursday.

The finding by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology resulted from an in-depth clinical case study on six families with TREM2 H157Y variant carriers.

The research team noted that H157Y variant carriers experienced a more rapid disease severity, and their MRI analysis shows more severe brain volume loss.

Nancy Ip Yuk-yu, president of HKUST and the research team leader, said that results noted that AD patients carrying the variant may develop a severe disease phase within three to five years. In comparison, other patients usually experienced the same level of severity six to eight years after being diagnosed.

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The variant is found in about 1 in 200 Chinese patients with AD, five times higher than its prevalence in Europeans.

Ip, who is also director of the Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, noted that this is an inaugural study that proved TREM2 H157Y is associated with more severe AD pathology and neurogeneration, and the finding can help formulate personalized patient management strategies and targeted therapeutics.

Contact the writer: atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com