Health · Medical Research · 1 hr ago
Gene-editing study changes high-risk Alzheimer’s gene in human cells
University of Bristol researchers changed APOE4 to APOE3 in immune cells from people with Alzheimer’s disease.
APOE4 is a genetic variant linked to a higher risk of Alzheimer’s, but having it does not mean a person will definitely develop the disease.
People with one copy are about twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s as average, while those with two copies are about ten times as likely.
The team used gene-editing technology to make the change permanent by working with the cells’ own repair machinery.
The researchers hope the altered immune cells could enter the brain and release the lower-risk APOE3 protein, which may help protect brain cells.
Tests found very little effect on other parts of the cells’ DNA, but the work described was done in cells, not as a treatment in people.
The approach could one day be delivered by a one-off injection, though the source gives no timeline for that.
Researchers at the University of Bristol converted the high-risk APOE4 Alzheimer’s gene into the lower-risk APOE3 gene in human cells.
The study used immune cells derived from people with Alzheimer’s disease.
The team used a technique designed to make a specific genetic change permanent and found very little impact on the cells’ wider DNA.
The researchers say the modified immune cells could potentially deliver lower-risk APOE3 protein to the brain.
The work may inform future approaches to preventing or treating Alzheimer’s, but the article describes a study in cells.
- Who
- Researchers at the University of Bristol, led by neuroscientist Kevin Kemp.
- What
- They converted APOE4 into APOE3 in human immune cells derived from Alzheimer’s patients.
- When
- The research was reported recently; the article was published on 27 October 2026.
- Where
- In human cells. The researchers are at the University of Bristol.
- Why
- To explore whether changing the high-risk gene could help reduce Alzheimer’s risk or treat the disease.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
University of Bristol researchers reported converting APOE4 into APOE3 in human cells.
The team checked for unwanted changes to wider DNA and found very little impact.
The Daily Mail published its report on the research.
- High-risk gene
- APOE4
- Lower-risk gene
- APOE3
- Research institution
- University of Bristol
- Study cells
- Immune cells derived from Alzheimer’s patients
- Publication date
- 27 October 2026
What people are saying
The difference is just one letter in the genetic code of the genes. It is a tiny, tiny difference.
The idea is that these immune cells enter the brain and release the lower-risk APOE3 protein,