Groundbreaking Large-Scale Stem Cell Bank Promotes Global Alzheimer's Disease Research
A groundbreaking large-scale stem cell bank has been developed to advance global research into the genetic factors influencing Alzheimer's disease, offering new hope for personalized treatments.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent and progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects approximately 10% of individuals over 65 and one-third of those aged 85 and above. While environmental factors play a role, genetic influences are significant determinants of whether an individual develops AD during their lifetime.
Advancements in genome sequencing of large populations—comparing healthy individuals with AD patients—have identified specific genetic variants associated with increased disease risk. These variants enable the calculation of a polygenic risk score (PRS), which accurately predicts an individual's likelihood of developing AD.
Despite progress in identifying genetic risk factors, the mechanisms by which these variants influence disease development remain largely unclear. To address this gap, researchers at the UK Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff University have established the first comprehensive stem cell bank from over 100 individuals selected based on their AD PRS. This includes donors diagnosed with AD who have high PRS and cognitively healthy individuals with low PRS.
Blood cells from these donors were genetically reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which are versatile cells capable of developing into any cell type. This innovative "iPSC Platform to Model Alzheimer's disease Risk" (IPMAR) provides a valuable resource for scientists worldwide to investigate how genetic variants impact brain cell function and AD progression in laboratory models.
The ultimate goal of this project is to deepen understanding of the genetic factors contributing to AD and to facilitate the development of personalized treatments or preventive strategies. The study's findings have been published in Stem Cell Reports. More details can be accessed here.
This pioneering resource represents a significant step toward unraveling the genetic complexities of Alzheimer's disease and opens new avenues for targeted research and therapeutic discovery.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-large-scale-stem-cell-bank.html*
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