Researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine have identified a significant genetic factor in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) within the African American population. The study, published on January 1, 2026, reveals that the gene ADAMTS2 exhibits heightened activity in individuals with Alzheimer’s compared to those without the disease. This discovery holds implications not just for African Americans but also suggests a shared biological pathway for Alzheimer’s across racial lines.
Alzheimer’s affects African Americans at approximately twice the rate seen in individuals of European ancestry in the United States. Contributing to this disparity are various social and structural factors, such as unequal access to healthcare, differing educational opportunities, and biases in cognitive testing. Additionally, African Americans experience higher incidences of health conditions like cardiovascular disease and diabetes, which are known to elevate the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
The study stands out as the largest of its kind, focusing on brain tissue from over 200 donors. Scientists identified numerous genes that behaved differently in individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s compared to controls. Among these, ADAMTS2 emerged as the most significantly altered gene, showing a 1.5-fold increase in activity levels in the brains of those with autopsy-confirmed Alzheimer’s.
Research Methodology and Findings
The research team analyzed gene expression data from post-mortem prefrontal cortex tissue from 207 African American brain donors, including 125 individuals with confirmed Alzheimer’s and 82 controls. These samples were sourced from 14 National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded Alzheimer’s Research Centers across the United States.
Interestingly, ADAMTS2 was not only significant in this study but also ranked first in an independent analysis involving a larger group of individuals of European ancestry. This independent study compared Alzheimer’s pathology in those who exhibited clinical symptoms before death to individuals who retained cognitive resilience despite similar pathology.
According to Lindsay A. Farrer, PhD, chief of biomedical genetics at Boston University and corresponding author of the study, this demonstrates a notable finding across both African American and White populations for the first time in similarly designed genetic studies for Alzheimer’s.
Broader Implications for Alzheimer’s Research
The findings from this research are pivotal in advancing understanding of the genetic factors associated with Alzheimer’s among African Americans. Previous studies have indicated that known Alzheimer’s risk variants often show population-specific characteristics or differing frequencies among groups.
Farrer elaborated, “Although the risk of Alzheimer’s in African Americans has been associated with several genetic variants, the overlap of genes showing association in European ancestry populations is modest. The significant expression of ADAMTS2 in both Whites and Blacks with Alzheimer’s not only points to a shared biological process but also raises the priority for further research into this gene as a potential therapeutic target.”
The study received extensive support from various NIH grants, underscoring its significance in the ongoing search for effective Alzheimer’s treatments. The implications of this research may lead to new strategies in understanding Alzheimer’s risk and developing targeted therapies that address the needs of diverse populations.
This research contributes to a growing body of evidence that emphasizes the importance of inclusive studies in genetics, particularly for diseases that disproportionately affect specific communities. The potential for identifying common genetic markers could pave the way for more effective, tailored interventions in Alzheimer’s treatment and prevention.
