Dr. Peng Jiang Publishes in Nature Neuroscience on Gene Mutation That Protects Against Alzheimer’s Disease

Dr. Peng Jiang, Associate Professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience at Rutgers University–New Brunswick and a BHI faculty member, and Mengmeng Jin, a postdoctoral research fellow and the first author of the study, have published a new paper in Nature Neuroscience that they say could reshape how scientists think about Alzheimer’s treatment.

The study identifies a rare gene mutation that appears to protect the brain’s immune cells from the damage typically caused by the disease. “We believe it’s a major advance in the field,” Jiang said. “Rather than looking at mutations that increase risk, we’re searching for mutations that can confer resilience.”

Read more: Inspired by a Family’s Struggle, a Scientist Helps Uncover Defense Against Alzheimer’s Disease