Episode 367
Some people are genetically destined to develop Alzheimer鈥檚 disease. But one man who carried the devastating mutation seems to have escaped it entirely – and scientists think it may be because of his job.聽
Doug Whitney inherited the rare variant of a gene that should have caused early-onset Alzheimer鈥檚 in his mid-40s. Many of his family members died from it. Instead, he is now 76 years old with no memory problems and no trace of the disease. Researchers investigating his case uncovered a surprising clue: his inadvertent heat exposure while working as a mechanic in ship engine rooms.聽
Could heat exposure really help shield the brain from Alzheimer鈥檚? What does Doug鈥檚 case reveal about the disease? And should we all build a sauna in our backyard?
Rowan Hooper is joined by New 杏吧原创 reporter Alice Klein to discuss Doug Whitney鈥檚 extraordinary case and what it could mean for the future of Alzheimer鈥檚 research.
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