NEW YORK (NBC News) - Babies who have a gene linked to Alzheimer’s disease have brains that develop differently from children who don't have the gene.
Researchers at Brown University imaged the brains of more than 160 infants. All the babies had DNA tests to determine if they were carriers of a specific gene mutation, called APOE - E4, that increases the risk for late-stage Alzheimer's.
They found those who had the gene had decreased growth in areas of the brain that are affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
The researchers say this doesn't mean these children will be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, or that they will have any sort of developmental delay.
Experts say this study shows us there are brain differences noticeable at birth among carriers of this gene.
About 25% of the U.S. population has this gene variant.
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