A man with a deterministic Alzheimer’s mutation shows heavy amyloid but almost no tau and no cognitive decline. He has unusually high heat‑shock proteins—possibly from years working in 110°F Navy engine rooms—along with low inflammation and distinct gene variants. This suggests boosting chaperone responses could block tau pathology even when amyloid is present.
— If inducible heat‑shock pathways can interrupt the amyloid→tau cascade, Alzheimer’s prevention might include chaperone‑enhancing drugs or controlled stressors, reframing therapeutic targets and occupational/exposure research.
msmash
2025.10.09
100% relevant
Nature Medicine report on Doug Whitney: high heat‑shock proteins, low inflammation, heavy amyloid, minimal tau, and preserved cognition after decades post‑risk age.
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