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Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association
Published

The presenilin 1 mutation P436S causes familial Alzheimer's disease with elevated Aβ43 and atypical clinical manifestations

Authors

Charles Arber, Christopher R S Belder, Filip Tomczuk, Rebecca Gabriele, Yazead Buhidma, Clíona Farrell, Antoinette O'Connor, Helen Rice, Tammaryn Lashley, Nick C Fox, Natalie S Ryan, Selina Wray

Abstract

Alzheimers Dement. 2024 Jun 2. doi: 10.1002/alz.13904. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Familial Alzheimer's disease (fAD) is heterogeneous in terms of age at onset and clinical presentation. A greater understanding of the pathogenicity of fAD variants and how these contribute to heterogeneity will enhance our understanding of the mechanisms of AD more widely.

METHODS: To determine the pathogenicity of the unclassified PSEN1 P436S mutation, we studied an expanded kindred of eight affected individuals, with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (two individuals), patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models (two donors), and post-mortem histology (one donor).

RESULTS: An autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance of fAD was seen, with an average age at symptom onset of 46 years and atypical features. iPSC models and post-mortem tissue supported high production of amyloid beta 43 (Aβ43). PSEN1 peptide maturation was unimpaired.

DISCUSSION: We confirm that the P436S mutation in PSEN1 causes atypical fAD. The location of the mutation in the critical PSEN1 proline-alanine-leucine-proline (PALP) motif may explain the early age at onset despite appropriate protein maturation.

HIGHLIGHTS: PSEN1 P436S mutations cause familial Alzheimer's disease. This mutation is associated with atypical clinical presentation. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and post-mortem studies support increased amyloid beta (Aβ43) production. Early age at onset highlights the importance of the PALP motif in PSEN1 function.

PMID:38824433 | DOI:10.1002/alz.13904