Association of common and rare variants with Alzheimer's disease in more than 13,000 diverse individuals with whole-genome sequencing from the Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project

Alzheimers Dement. 2024 Dec;20(12):8470-8483. doi: 10.1002/alz.14283. Epub 2024 Oct 20.

Abstract

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common disorder of the elderly that is both highly heritable and genetically heterogeneous.

Methods: We investigated the association of AD with both common variants and aggregates of rare coding and non-coding variants in 13,371 individuals of diverse ancestry with whole genome sequencing (WGS) data.

Results: Pooled-population analyses of all individuals identified genetic variants at apolipoprotein E (APOE) and BIN1 associated with AD (p < 5 × 10-8). Subgroup-specific analyses identified a haplotype on chromosome 14 including PSEN1 associated with AD in Hispanics, further supported by aggregate testing of rare coding and non-coding variants in the region. Common variants in LINC00320 were observed associated with AD in Black individuals (p = 1.9 × 10-9). Finally, we observed rare non-coding variants in the promoter of TOMM40 distinct of APOE in pooled-population analyses (p = 7.2 × 10-8).

Discussion: We observed that complementary pooled-population and subgroup-specific analyses offered unique insights into the genetic architecture of AD.

Highlights: We determine the association of genetic variants with Alzheimer's disease (AD) using 13,371 individuals of diverse ancestry with whole genome sequencing (WGS) data. We identified genetic variants at apolipoprotein E (APOE), BIN1, PSEN1, and LINC00320 associated with AD. We observed rare non-coding variants in the promoter of TOMM40 distinct of APOE.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; genetics; rare genetic variants; whole genome sequencing.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
  • Aged
  • Alzheimer Disease* / genetics
  • Apolipoproteins E* / genetics
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics
  • Genetic Variation / genetics
  • Haplotypes
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Mitochondrial Precursor Protein Import Complex Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Presenilin-1 / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • Whole Genome Sequencing*

Substances

  • Apolipoproteins E
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • BIN1 protein, human
  • Presenilin-1
  • Mitochondrial Precursor Protein Import Complex Proteins
  • TOMM40 protein, human
  • PSEN1 protein, human
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins