We are pleased that our paper on the LRP6 Val variant has been published in Science Advances.
We identified that carrying this variant of LRP6 enhances synaptic defects and synapse loss during ageing and increases synapse degeneration in Alzheimer’s disease. These changes in connectivity could result in a detrimental effect on cognitive function in human carriers of the LRP6 variant. The study also identified that the mutant receptor does not initiate Wnt signalling or promote synapse formation in response to Wnt proteins.
Together, our study provides new insights into potential targets for promoting synapse repair/recovery in Alzheimer’s disease.