Study reveals 3D genome disruption as hidden layer of Alzheimer's disease
Researchers find that DNA folding changes in brain cells offer new understanding of disease mechanisms beyond plaques and tangles.
What to know
- Researchers identified disrupted 3D DNA organization in Alzheimer's brain cells as a previously underexplored disease mechanism.
- The finding expands understanding of Alzheimer's pathology beyond amyloid plaques and tau tangles to include chromatin structure changes.
- The study combined single-cell sequencing, spatial tissue mapping, and AI analysis to link genome folding with gene activity changes in affected brain tissue.
Jian Ma Study lead, computational biology professorHansruedi Mathys Co-investigator, neurobiology assistant professorCarnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science Research institutionUniversity of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Research institutionUniversity of Washington Research institution
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Chromatin alterations identified as disease mechanism alongside plaques and tangles
The study establishes higher-order chromatin alterations—changes in how DNA and associated proteins package the genome—as a component of Alzheimer's molecular pathology. This expands understanding beyond the classic hallmarks of amyloid-beta plaques and tau tangles, which currently affect seven million Americans.
“Our results establish higher-order chromatin alterations as a component of the molecular pathology associated with the disease, which currently affects seven million Americans, a number that continues to grow.”
— Hansruedi Mathys, assistant professor of neurobiology at Pitt -
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DATE: September 13, 2026 at 09:56AM SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED TITLE: Scientists find a new layer of Alzheimer’s hidden in the genome URL: https://www. sciencedaily.com/releases/2026 /09/260912220051.htm Scientists found that the 3D organization of DNA is disrupted in several types of brain cells affected by Alzheimer’s disease…
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DATE: September 13, 2026 at 09:56AM SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHOLOGY FEED TITLE: Scientists find a new layer of Alzheimer’s hidden in the genome URL: https://www. sciencedaily.com/releases/2026 /09/260912220051.htm Scientists found that the 3D organization of DNA is disrupted in several types of brain cells affected by Alzheimer’s disease…
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Study finds genome folding disruption in Alzheimer's brain cells — Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pittsburgh, and University of Washington published findings in Science showing that the 3D organization of DNA differs in certain brain cells from people with Alzheimer's disease. The team used GAGE-seq technology and spatial transcriptomic mapping to connect genome folding changes with shifts in gene activity and tissue organization.
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first by Science Daily, 10d ago · also Newsweek
1 more headline
- Scientists Uncover a Hidden Alzheimer’s Clue Deep Inside Brain Cells Newsweek · 7d ago