I suppose that does explain the drop off in expression of the gene: Alzheimer's risk of death/year 1-3% [1]. That annual mortality rate is in the right ballpark

I suppose that does explain the drop off in expression of the gene: Alzheimer's risk of death/year 1-3% [1]. That annual mortality rate is in the right ballpark to explain the frequency of gene expression decrease by about 50% between ages 40 and 80 [2]. Agree the study does look at genes influencing survival rates. I still don't see the link to the headline 'humans are evolving!'. Small second-order effects, okay, sure. So how about, 'Massive Genetic Study shows genetics affect mortality rates, plus maybe there's a small secondary effect on reproduction, who knows?'. [1]. 83,000 (i) or 3,349 (ii) Alzheimer's deaths per year out of 2mm deaths (iii) => 1-3% i) http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/alzheimer-kills-previously-thought-study-article-1.1712078 http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/alzheimer-kills... ii) http://www.alz.org/mglc/in_my_community_60862.asp http://www.alz.org/mglc/in_my_community_60862.asp iii) https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/deaths.htm https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/deaths.htm [2] See graphs in paper.