Early results from a long-term research project indicate that certain age-related declines in brain function are influenced by genes. This project, the Genetics of Brain Structure and Function Study, aims to identify the genes that predispose people to brain disorders and mental illnesses. By establishing that genetic links do exist, the project has made a crucial first step toward its ultimate goal.
According to the researchers, these results imply that fluctuations in genetic influence with advancing age trigger at least a portion of the neurocognitive decline seen in normal aging: “Our analyses suggest that for some traits, G × A interactions are due to changes in the action of specific genes, whereas for other measures, G × A interactions are associated with differences in the exact genes that influence the trait.”
Read the full, original story here: Genes Shared by Relatives Shown to Influence Brain Aging
