Talk about “Against all odds” and Doug Whitney is the man that the entire scientific community thinks of. This 76-year-old from Seattle has genes that predict Alzheimer’s, but his brain has other plans. Whitney, which is one of the few that inherits a rare genetic mutation, which guarantees the development of Alzheimer’s before they turn 50. But Whitney works pretty well, even two and a half decades after the “predicted” genetic fate.
However, the pensioner is still in contact with eager researchers because he is the subject of superhuman research. Simply put, he is really a superhuman.
What is Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, a brain disorder that slowly destroys a person’s memory and thinking. 57 million people had dementia 2021, according to the World Health Organization. Over 7 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. This number is estimated to rise to almost 13 million of 2050.Alzheimer’s leads to a loss of cognitive function, such as thinking, remembering and reasoning, along with behavioral skills, to such an extent that it disturbs a person’s daily lives and activities. Over time, Alzheimer’s patients lose their ability to perform simple daily tasks such as eating or walking.
A family history of Alzheimer’s
Whitney comes from the largest family in the United States known to have an Alzheimer’s causing mutation. His family carries the presentiline 2 mutation tracked into German immigrants who settled near the Volga river in Russia in the 1700s. The mutation bearers usually show Alzheimer’s symptoms between the ages of 44–53 and die within about a decade. But Whitney remains asymptomatic far past the expected age.His mother and nine of her 13 siblings, along with her oldest brother, developed all Alzheimer’s early beginning. They died at the beginning of their lives. Whitney, however, is a scientific unicorn and potentially the best answer to one of the world’s most devastating diseases. “No one in history had ever avoided that bullet,” he told the New York Times. While Whitney’s family was terrified when he turned 50, he remained calm and focused on enjoying life rather than fearing the inevitable.
Alzheimer’s refugee
Doug Whitney is called ‘Alzheimer’s Escapee’ by the researchers. He would be sick. His rare genetic mutation guaranteed that he would develop Alzheimer’s disease in the late 40s or early 50’s and would probably die within a decade. But he has not. Only two other individuals all over the world have avoided cognitive decline even though they carry early mutations. Alzheimer’s hands when two proteins abnormally accumulate: amyloid and tau. Amyloid forms plaque decades before symptoms appear, while Tau creates tangles after amyloid has been built up. Tau is linked to cognitive decline. The researchers found that Whitney’s brain is full of amyloid plaque, more than other mutations transported in his family. However, there is TAU accumulation in only one region in the brain, which affects visual-room functions but does not significantly impair cognition. Researchers hope to understand how amyloid accommodation was relaxed from TAU pathology. This can pave the way for new therapies.The researchers have identified several factors that can contribute to Whitney’s resilience. His DNA includes gene variants absent in affected relatives, some of whom can affect neuro inflammation or TAU accumulation. His immune system also shows lower inflammatory answers, which can protect his brain.The researchers also found that he has unusually high levels of heat shock proteins, which helps prevent faulty proteins from spreading. They suspect that his decade is working in the engine room in navy blue steamers, which endured extreme heat, may have contributed to this protective effect.
