TAS2R38 taster variants-linked MGAM expression in Alzheimer's disease: a novel target for precision drug repurposing.
Overview
- School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- ASU-Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
Abstract
Introduction: TAS2R38 is a taste receptor gene located on human chromosome 7 that influences sensitivity to bitter tastes and has been implicated in innate immunity, glucose level, and human longevity. However, its potential association with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) has not been explored. Identifying such a genetic connection could support developing new drugs or repurposing existing ones for AD treatment.
Methods: In this work, we examined the relationship between allele counts of TAS2R38 taster variants and AD risk using linear mixed-effects models, utilizing genetic, clinical, and biomarker data from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). We investigated the potential molecular mechanisms of the association by identifying expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) using RNA-seq data from postmortem tissues across brain regions from the Religious Orders Study/
Results: Our results show that TAS2R38 supertasters were connected to a reduced AD risk with advancing age due to its association with various AD biomarkers (p < 0.001). eQTL analysis linked the nontaster allele to increased expression of the gene MGAM in AD-affected brain regions (p < 0.001). Furthermore, elevated MGAM expression correlated with more severe Tau burden (p < 0.05) and implicated in mitochondrial dysfunction in AD subjects. Notably, MGAM is a known drug target for diabetes mellitus. In NACC data, individuals taking MGAM-inhibiting drugs (acarbose and miglitol) showed slower clinical dementia rating progression (p < 0.01) in comparison with the non-taking group.
Discussion: This study is the first to report a genetic association between TAS2R38 and AD biomarkers. Our findings, validated in multiple cohorts/
Reproduced under the paper's license (CC BY), from the paper cited above.
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Data
Datasets cited
- synapse.org/
synapse:syn11707420 , at Synapse; found in the text - synapse.org/
synapse:syn30821562 , at Synapse; found in the text - synapse.org/
synapse:syn51732523 , at Synapse; found in the text
Data availability statement
The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/
Reproduced under the paper's license (CC BY), from the paper cited above.
Versions
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Version 1, 30 September 2026: the first record
Recorded: type, language, journal, volume, pages, dates, 5 authors, 8 keywords, 27 funders, 52 references.
Cite
This paper
Su, C. W., Chen, K., Wu, T., Reiman, E. M., & Wang, Q. (2026). TAS2R38 taster variants-linked MGAM expression in Alzheimer's disease: a novel target for precision drug repurposing. Frontiers in aging neuroscience, 18, 1768436. https://
BibTeX
@article{su2026tas2r38,
author = {Su, Claire W and Chen, Kewei and Wu, Teresa and Reiman, Eric M and Wang, Qi},
title = {{TAS2R38 taster variants-linked MGAM expression in Alzheimer's disease: a novel target for precision drug repurposing}},
journal = {Frontiers in aging neuroscience},
year = {2026},
month = mar,
volume = {18},
pages = {1768436},
publisher = {Frontiers Media SA},
issn = {1663-4365},
doi = {10.3389/
url = {https://
pmid = {41858791},
pmcid = {PMC12996105}
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
AU - Su, Claire W
AU - Chen, Kewei
AU - Wu, Teresa
AU - Reiman, Eric M
AU - Wang, Qi
TI - TAS2R38 taster variants-linked MGAM expression in Alzheimer's disease: a novel target for precision drug repurposing
T2 - Frontiers in aging neuroscience
J2 - Front Aging Neurosci
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/
VL - 18
SP - 1768436
SN - 1663-4365
PB - Frontiers Media SA
DO - 10.3389/
UR - https://
LA - en
ER -
CSL-JSON
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