There are 3 papers on TREM2R47H in aging research: none in people yet, 3 in animals. The newest story, Nov 2, 2026: “Alzheimer’s risk variant mildly altered brain immune cells in mice”.
3 papers study it5 findings
None of its findings points the other way.
Upregulation of microglial genes
no changein mice1
TREM2R47H showed no clear effect on upregulation of microglial genes in mice (knock-in on AppNL-F background).
“Trem2 KO mice showed deficits in upregulation of microglial genes while Trem2 R47H KI mice showed a response similar to control mice.”
Animalsknock-in on AppNL-F background
Alzheimer’s risk variant mildly altered brain immune cells in mice
Experimental neurology
Amyloid β 42 accumulation
no changein mice1
TREM2R47H showed no clear effect on amyloid β 42 accumulation in mice (knock-in on AppNL-F background).
“Accumulation of amyloid β 42 and formation of dystrophic neurites were increased in Trem2 KO mice but not in Trem2 R47H KI mice at 18 or 24 months.”
Animalsknock-in on AppNL-F background
Alzheimer’s risk variant mildly altered brain immune cells in mice
Experimental neurology
Neurodegenerative disease
upin mice1
TREM2R47H increases neurodegenerative disease in APOE4 P301S tauopathy mice.
“We find that R47H induces neurodegeneration in 9- to 10-month-old female APOE4 tauopathy mice.”
Animalsin APOE4 P301S tauopathy micefemales
Neuron
Hippocampal tau load
no changein mice1
TREM2R47H showed no clear effect on hippocampal tau load in female APOE4 mice on the P301S tauopathy background.
“We find that the R47H variant induces neurodegeneration in female APOE4 mice without impacting hippocampal tau load.”
Animalsin female APOE4 mice on the P301S tauopathy backgroundhippocampusfemales
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biologyPreprint
Experiments in Alzheimer’s-model mice aged 18 or 24 months found that a risk variant had different effects from complete loss of the gene.Experiments in Alzheimer’s-model mice aged 18 or 24 months found that a risk variant had different effects from complete loss of the gene.