It is understood that three genes, APP, PSEN-1 and PSEN-2, play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the genetic basis for early-onset AD is still very much unexplored, according to Christine Van Broeckhoven, PhD, DSc from the Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases Group, VIB, Antwerp, Belgium. Dr Broeckhoven explains to us why identifying more genes is so important and talks about her work in this area, discussing in detail the data she presented on a novel gene proven to be a risk factor for AD. This interview was recorded at the 2017 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) held in London, UK.