Human-specific derived alleles of CD33 and other genes protect against postreproductive cognitive decline.

ABSTRACT: The individuals of most vertebrate species die when they can no longer reproduce. Humans are a rare exception, having evolved a prolonged postreproductive lifespan. Elders contribute to cooperative offspring care, assist in foraging, and communicate important ecological and cultural knowledge, increasing the survival of younger individuals. Age-related deterioration of cognitive capacity in humans compromises these benefits and also burdens the group with socially costly members. We investigated the contribution of the immunoregulatory receptor CD33 to a uniquely human postreproductive disease, Alzheimer's dementia. Surprisingly, even though selection at advanced age is expected to be weak, a CD33 allele protective against Alzheimer's disease is derived and unique to humans and favors a fu

SUBMITTER: Schwarz F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4711857 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature