Researchers have identified a repeating DNA sequence that may help explain differences in susceptibility to Alzheimer’s disease. The sequence, made up of repeated CCG letters, lies in a regulatory region of the FAM193B gene. In Chinese study participants, longer repeats were associated with approximately twice the odds of having Alzheimer’s, while a smaller association was observed in people of European ancestry. Laboratory experiments also suggested that longer repeats increase FAM193B activity and may influence cellular stress and DNA damage. Although the findings offer a new genetic clue, further research is needed to establish how this variation contributes to Alzheimer’s and whether it could inform future diagnostic or treatment strategies.
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