The attacker was able to view team members’ private Discord messages, allowing them to gain access to the team’s wallet address and mint 100 million fake tokens.
Some Alzheimer’s cases may be caused by copies of a single gene, research shows
- Researchers have identified a genetic form of late-in-life Alzheimer’s disease for the first time, which occurs in people inheriting two copies of the APOE4 gene.
- APOE4 is known to increase the risk of Alzheimer’s.
- Symptoms in those with two APOE4 copies can manifest seven to ten years earlier compared to those with other risk factors.
For the first time, researchers have identified a genetic form of late-in-life Alzheimer’s disease — in people who inherit two copies of a worrisome gene.
Scientists have long known a gene called APOE4 is one of many things that can increase people’s risk for Alzheimer’s, including simply getting older. The vast majority of Alzheimer’s cases occur after age 65. But research published Monday suggests that for people who carry not one but two copies of the gene, it’s more than a risk factor, it’s an underlying cause of the mind-robbing disease.
The findings mark a distinction with “profound implications,” said Dr. Juan Fortea, who led the study the Sant Pau Research Institute in Barcelona, Spain.
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Among them: Symptoms can begin seven to 10 years sooner than in other older adults who develop Alzheimer’s.
For the first time, researchers have identified a genetic form of late-in-life Alzheimer’s disease — in people who inherit two copies of a worrisome gene. (AP Photo/David Duprey, File)
An estimated 15% of Alzheimer’s patients carry two copies of APOE4, meaning those cases “can be tracked back to a cause and the cause is in the genes,” Fortea said. Until now, genetic forms of Alzheimer’s were thought to be only types that strike at much younger ages and account for less than 1% of all cases.
Scientists say the research makes it critical to develop treatments that target the APOE4 gene. Some doctors won’t offer the only drug that has been shown to modestly slow the disease, Leqembi, to people with the gene pair because they’re especially prone to a dangerous side effect, said Dr. Reisa Sperling, a study coauthor at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
Sperling hunts ways to prevent or at least delay Alzheimer’s and “this data for me says wow, what an important group to be able to go after before they become symptomatic.”
But the news doesn’t mean people should race for a gene test. “It’s important not to scare everyone who has a family history” of Alzheimer’s because this gene duo isn’t behind most cases, she told The Associated Press.
HOW DO GENETICS AFFECT ALZHEIMER’S?
More than 6 million Americans, and millions more worldwide, have Alzheimer’s. A handful of genes are known to cause rare “early-onset” forms, mutations passed through families that trigger symptoms unusually young, by age 50. Some cases also are linked to Down syndrome.
But Alzheimer’s most commonly strikes after 65, especially in the late 70s to 80s, and the APOE gene – which also affects how the body handles fats — was long known to play some role. There are three main varieties. Most people carry the APOE3 variant that appears to neither increase nor decrease Alzheimer’s risk. Some carry APOE2, which provides some protection against Alzheimer’s.
APOE4 has long been labeled the biggest genetic risk factor for late-in-life Alzheimer’s, with two copies risker than one. About 2% of the global population is estimated to have inherited a copy from each parent.
RESEARCH POINTS TO A CAUSE FOR A SUBSET OF ALZHEIMER’S
To better understand the gene’s role, Fortea’s team used data from 3,297 brains donated for research and from over 10,000 people in U.S. and European Alzheimer’s studies. They examined symptoms and early hallmarks of Alzheimer’s such as sticky amyloid in the brain.
People with two APOE4 copies were accumulating more amyloid at age 55 than those with just one copy or the “neutral” APOE3 gene variety, they reported in the journal Nature Medicine. By age 65, brain scans showed significant plaque buildup in nearly three-quarters of those double carriers – who also were more likely to have initial Alzheimer’s symptoms around that age rather than in the 70s or 80s.
Fortea said the disease’s underlying biology was remarkably similar to young inherited types.
It appears more like “a familial form of Alzheimer’s,” said Dr. Eliezer Masliah of the National Institute on Aging. “It is not just a risk factor.”
Importantly, not everyone with two APOE4 genes develops Alzheimer’s symptoms and researchers need to learn why, Sperling cautioned.
“It’s not quite destiny,” she said.
HOW THE NEW FINDINGS MAY AFFECT ALZHEIMER’S RESEARCH AND TREATMENT
The drug Leqembi works by clearing away some sticky amyloid but Sperling said it’s not clear if carriers of two APOE4 genes benefit because they have such a high risk of a side effect from the drug – dangerous brain swelling and bleeding. One research question is whether they’d do better starting such drugs sooner than other people.
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Masliah said other research aims to develop gene therapy or drugs to specifically target APOE4. He said it’s also crucial to understand APOE4’s effects in diverse populations since it’s been studied mostly in white people of European ancestry.
As for gene tests, for now they’re typically used only to evaluate if someone’s a candidate for Leqembi or for people enrolling in Alzheimer’s research – especially studies of possible ways to prevent the disease. Sperling said the people most likely to carry two APOE4 genes had parents who both got Alzheimer’s relatively early, in their 60s rather than 80s.
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How to recover a hacked Facebook account
Facebook is no stranger to cyberthreats. Many hackers and scammers use Facebook to reach their victims, and keeping up with all their new techniques is challenging. Most of the time, people don’t even realize they’ve been hacked until a friend on Facebook lets them know they’ve received suspicious links from you on Messenger or almost clicked on a strange link posted to your page. (Unfortunately, this friend may have already clicked on the link.)
To add fuel to the fire, many accounts that have been hacked are also hard to get back into after the fact by the actual account holder. We received an email from a man who contacted us with just this very question:
“My wife’s Facebook was hacked a month ago, and we aren’t able to get back into her account, let alone just to get Facebook to shut it down.”
Does this sound familiar? What do you do if you realize your Facebook account has been hacked? And how can you get back on and recover your account if the hacker has logged you out? Here’s what you need to know.
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A woman on her Facebook account (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Why can’t I get access to my account after I’ve been hacked?
No one wants to find out that their Facebook account has been hacked. Being locked out of your account, unable to let your friends know that you didn’t send those suspicious links, or unable to log back in altogether can be upsetting and frustrating. But why does this happen? Why can’t you get back into your account after being hacked?
Well, there are a few reasons. One could be that once the hacker accessed your account, they’ve entered your settings and changed the password, so you can’t get back in without resetting it. If they’ve changed additional settings, it’ll take more than a password reset to get back in.
The other way is that someone may have reported your posts or your account to Facebook, letting them know that a hacker has taken over the account. In some cases, Facebook will block the account for security reasons. In both situations, getting back onto the platform and recovering your account is difficult. But there are ways to do it.
Facebook sign-in page (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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How can I get back into/recover my account?
If you’ve been hacked and signed out of Facebook, you might wonder how you can access your account. Sometimes, you can still log into your Facebook account, but you recognize you’ve been hacked and want to take back ownership. Other times, Facebook already detects the hack and will log you out for security reasons, especially if you cannot verify the changes the hacker may have made to your account. Finally, if the hacker changed your recovery information – like your email and phone number – you may have an extra difficult time recovering your account. This is what you can try.
Facebook app (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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How to log back into Facebook if the hacker has logged you out
You may realize a hacker has taken over your account if you can’t log in, or you may notice some red flags while still logged into your account – like posts you didn’t create or friends letting you know you’ve been hacked. You may also notice that your account details, such as your name, birth date, etc., have been changed.
If you know you’ve been hacked, and you’ve been signed out of your account, you can:
- Go to the login screen and click Forgotten password
- Then follow the steps to reset your password and log back in
- Lastly, Facebook suggests that you visit https://www.facebook.com/hacked to secure your account. Here, they’ll ask you to change your password and review your recent login activity.
Facebook log-in page (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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How to recover your account if the hacker changed the email address on file
If you’ve tried the above method, and you’re still locked out of your account, it could be because the hacker has changed the email address and other verification information on file, which means any reset password links after that will go to them.
The good news is that you can reverse this. When the hacker changes the email, Facebook sends a message to the previous email account with a special link to verify – aka your email. Search your inbox for an email from Facebook. Then you can click this link to reverse the email change and follow the steps to secure your account.
Facebook main page (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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How to recover your Facebook account if you no longer have access to the phone number or email associated with your account
If you cannot access the phone number or email associated with your Facebook account (perhaps because the hacker has also compromised your email).
- Head to facebook.com/login/identify
- You can fill out a form to have Facebook review your account while answering a few security questions to prove the account you’re trying to recover is yours.
- Sometimes, you’ll have to provide proof of ID, like a photo of a driver’s license, as they match the information you provided to Facebook when you first created your account.
Facebook login on the app (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Help a friend recover their account (or ask your friend to help you)
Facebook also allows friends to help each other recover their accounts. This is also true if your friend has passed away or is incapacitated and can no longer use their Facebook. By doing this, you help prevent hackers from taking over a vulnerable account. The steps you’d take, though, depend on the situation. For instance, there are cases where hackers create fake profiles to impersonate you.Â
If you’re trying to help your friend recover their account for this reason – or they’re trying to help you – visit the Hacked Accounts section of the Help Center on Facebook and follow the steps.
How can I protect my account from being hacked in the future?
Unfortunately, if you’ve tried all the above methods and still can’t recover your account, you may not be able to. You can try to contact Facebook, but they are difficult to get in touch with.
Whether you get back into your account or end up creating a new one, you must take all the steps you can to secure your account to prevent hackers from getting in:
1) Visit Facebook’s “Privacy, Safety and Security” settings in the Help Center.
- Open the Facebook app
- Tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the bottom-right corner
- Scroll down and tap “Settings & Privacy”
- Tap “Settings”
- Here, you can adjust various settings related to your account, including privacy options.
2) Consider keeping your account as private as possible.
3) Be sure to use a strong password that you aren’t using for other accounts. Consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords.
4) Under your account settings, set up 2FA via SMS. This means if someone changes your email or phone number, at least one of the methods can help you get back in.
5) Log out of your Facebook account when you access it on a public or friend’s device.
6) Don’t share your login details with anyone, not even friends or relatives.
7) Don’t click on suspicious links or posts. The best way to protect yourself from clicking malicious links that install malware that may access your private information is to install antivirus protection on all your devices. This can also alert you of any phishing emails or ransomware scams. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices.
8) Frequently do software updates on your device to prevent malware from getting in.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
Facebook can be a risky place in general. As hackers become more inventive, there’s no way to protect yourself 100% from scams. If you get hacked and logged out of your account, it’s not enough to follow the steps to recover and log back in. You’ll also need to update your security preferences and ensure you follow the security tips we’ve outlined.
Have you ever had your Facebook hacked and needed to recover your account? Were you successful? Why or why not? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.
Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.
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Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
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These 5 NYC tourist sites prove lasting popularity of ‘Friends’ TV sitcom
“The Last One” aired on May 6, 2004.Â
Young adults around the world felt the loss.
It was the final episode of “Friends,” the wildly popular sitcom that portrayed the lives of six 20-somethings in search of love and meaning in New York City.Â
With humor and heartbreak, slapstick and sympathy, the TV series shared tales of Chandler (played by Matthew Perry), Joey (Matt LeBlanc), Monica (Courteney Cox), Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), Ross (David Schwimmer) and Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow).Â
“What has truly stood the test of time is its laugh-a-minute humor — a perfect storm of smart writing and flawless performances by the perfectly cast ensemble,” Australian Women’s Weekly reported last year following the death of Perry.Â
His loss was mourned around the world, as the Aussie magazine attests.Â
Matthew Perry (third from right) starred alongside Lisa Kudrow, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer in “Friends.” (Hulton Archive)
A global fan base has made New York City the bucket-list destination for “Friends” fans from far and wide — even though the show was filmed at Warner Bros. Ranch in Burbank, California.
5 favorite ‘Friends’ destinations in New York City
1. The Friends Experience
This interactive new tourist attraction did not appear on the show.Â
“The One in New York City” opened only in 2021.
Long lines are shown outside the flagship location of The Friends Experience, 130 East 23rd Street in Manhattan. (Joan Slatkin/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
But it serves as a Manhattan museum of “Friends” lore and memorabilia, including the show’s signature orange couch, the kitchen that was a centerpiece of the show and Rachel’s memorable cow jacket.Â
The Friends Experience also boasts “The One in Boston” and — coming soon — “The One in Miami.”
2. The apartment
The connection fans felt to “Friends” was proven in Oct. 2023, when Perry died after a struggle with addiction.
Fans flocked to the Greenwich Village apartment building at 90 Bedford St., whose facade served as the setting of the series.Â
Tributes and flowers for Matthew Perry at the “Friends” apartment building in Manhattan on Nov. 1, 2023 in New York City. (Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
Distraught fans left flowers, mementos and held vigils outside the location as if it were the actual home of Perry and his “Friends.”
3. The ‘Friends’ fountain
The fountain that appears in the “Friends” famous opening credits looks quite similar to the Cherry Hill Fountain in Central Park.Â
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Given the show’s setting in Manhattan, visitors naturally post pictures on social media boasting that they found the “Friends” fountain.
The group that manages Central Park has been forced to address the TV tourism controversy.Â
Cherry Hill Fountain in Central Park with view of towers of San Remo building, New York City. The fountain is often mistaken by tourists as the one that appears in the opening credits of the TV show “Friends.” (Mehul Patel/Alamy Stock Photo)
“Cherry Hill is still a popular destination for enjoying views of the lake and the cherries blooming in the spring,” the Central Park Conservancy writes online.Â
“Although the Cherry Hill Fountain looks similar, the fountain in the show was in fact filmed at a studio in Los Angeles.”
4. Chandler’s officeÂ
Perry’s character works as a “transpondster” — monitoring data in an ominous skyscraper with a signature slope.Â
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It is actually the Solow Building at 9 West 57th St. in Midtown Manhattan.
“The One With the Monkey” from TV series “Friends” with Maggie Wheeler as Janice Hosenstein and Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing. (Alice S. Hall/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
The skyscraper is a celebrity in its own right.
“This famous building has also featured in other TV shows and films,” reports GoCity.com, including “Sex & the City,” “Zoolander” and “Superman,” among others.
5. Ross’s museum
The popularity of “Friends” made Ross the world’s most famous paleontologist, working at the New York Museum of Prehistoric History.Â
Scene from “The One Where Ross Finds Out” from TV series “Friends,” with David Schwimmer as Ross Geller and Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green. (Robert Isenberg/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
The prehistoric museum does not exist.Â
The stately building that played the part was actually one of Manhattan’s most famous landmarks, the American Museum of Natural History along Central Park.Â
It was the setting for “Friends” moments as monumental as its architecture.
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“Just in case you need your memory jogged,” DigitalSpy.com reports, “it’s where Ross and Rachel first do the deed, and lest we forget, was the setting for sandwich-gate.”
For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle.
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