Prema Cognition, Phoenix Community launch Alzheimer’s gene study

Prema Cognition and the Phoenix Community have launched a Cambridge-linked research partnership to study more than 3,000 APOE4 carriers and how lifestyle may alter dementia risk. The project could help build the evidence base for future Alzheimer’s prevention guidance.

Why it matters: - The partnership targets a major open question in dementia research: how much lifestyle can change risk for people with the APOE4 gene, the strongest known genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease. - The study could help move dementia prevention from broad risk identification toward evidence-based guidance on what people can do to lower their odds of developing Alzheimer's disease. - The findings are intended to support future clinical guidelines for dementia prevention, an area that currently lacks the kind of protocols used for heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis.

What happened: - Prema Cognition announced a new research partnership with the Phoenix Community, one of the world's largest communities of APOE4 carriers. - The collaboration includes the University of Cambridge Memory Lab. - More than 3,000 Phoenix Community members will take part in the study. - The announcement was made June 24, 2026, in London.

The details: - Participants will complete regular PREMAZ cognitive assessments. - Participants will also track sleep, exercise, nutrition, metabolic health, biomarkers and other lifestyle factors. - The combined data will create a longitudinal real-world dataset on how genetics, lifestyle and early cognitive change interact over time. - PREMAZ is a digital cognitive assessment designed to detect subtle changes in memory years before conventional cognitive tests identify impairment. - Prema Cognition developed PREMAZ in collaboration with researchers at the University of Cambridge. - The platform is already in use across clinics and research settings in the UK and the US. - The project is designed to study the earliest measurable changes in brain function rather than only identifying who is at elevated genetic risk. - The collaboration will examine how lifestyle behaviors influence cognitive aging in people with inherited dementia risk. - Prema Cognition is a digital healthtech company focused on earlier detection of dementia. - The company was co-founded by Dr. Julia Cooney and Cameron Kirkpatrick. - The Phoenix Community says its members are focused on prevention and already invest in sleep, nutrition, exercise and overall health to reduce future risk. - The Phoenix Community describes itself as serving APOE4 carriers worldwide with personalized, science-driven support. - More information is available from the Phoenix Community and Prema Cognition.

Between the lines: - The partnership reflects a shift in dementia research from static genetics toward modifiable risk factors and prevention. - The study is aiming to generate evidence clinicians can use to advise patients on which interventions matter most, when to start them and how to monitor cognitive health over time. - Dr. Julia Cooney said the field still lacks evidence-based dementia prevention guidance comparable to existing protocols for other chronic diseases. - Kevin Tran said the Phoenix Community wants to contribute to research that could benefit millions of APOE4 carriers worldwide.

What's next: - The partnership will follow participants over time to see how lifestyle patterns align with cognitive changes. - The results are expected to inform future academic research and clinical trials. - Researchers hope the work will eventually support more personalized dementia prevention strategies.

The bottom line: - Prema Cognition and the Phoenix Community are building one of the largest real-world datasets yet on APOE4 carriers to test whether lifestyle can meaningfully offset inherited Alzheimer's risk.