Two new genetic mutations linked to Alzheimer’s

ft study identifies new genes responsible for alzheimers disease among african americans neuroinnovations

New research moves us closer to understanding the genetic underpinnings of Alzheimer’s disease, as scientists find two new genes that have been found to raise the risk for the condition.

A team of scientists jointly led by co-senior author Julie Williams, a professor at the University of Cardiff in the United Kingdom, set out to examine the DNA of more than 85,000 individuals in an attempt to identify the genetic variants associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

As Prof. Williams and colleagues explain in the study, late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD) has a strong genetic component…[In order to identify rare genetic variants that contribute to the risk of inheriting LOAD,] the researchers identified more than 200,000 variants….

Finally, the researchers narrowed the candidates down to two genes that were not previously believed to have links with Alzheimer’s disease. They also found a new mutation in a third gene, which was already known to be implicated in LOAD.

Dr. Doug Brown, director of Research and Development of the Alzheimer’s Society in the U.K., explains what the findings mean. He says, “These genes reinforce a critical role for special cells in the brain – called microglia – that are responsible for clearing up debris including damaged cells and proteins.”

[Read the full study here]

The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion, and analysis. Read full, original post: Scientists find two new risk genes for Alzheimer’s

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