In humans, two SNPs near the gene PICALM, rs3851179 and rs541458, which are associated with decreased levels of AD occurrence in a number of patient cohorts (44,45) are associated with higher levels of expression of PICALM (using the LIBD eQTL browser (46)), potentially suggesting that PICALM has a protective role in AD. The gene discussed is PICALM; the disease is Alzheimer disease.