A quick gene test could soon predict if you’re at risk of Alzheimer’s
MORE than 40 new genes linked to Alzheimer’s have been identified in a "major leap forward" in finding a cure for the disease.
It is more than double the previous total, with 75 sections of DNA now implicated in the brain-wasting condition.
Scientists say the landmark study means they now have a much clearer picture of the main genetic drivers of the disease.
As well as opening up fresh opportunities for treatments, it could soon allow medics to develop an accurate test for Alzheimer’s risk before symptoms appear.
Researcher Dr Rebecca Sims, from Cardiff University and UK Dementia Research Institute, said: "This study more than doubles the number of identified genes influencing risk for the more common form of Alzheimer's disease.
"It provides exciting new targets for therapeutic intervention and advances our ability to develop algorithms to predict who will develop Alzheimer's in later life.”
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The study, published in Nature Genetics, identified 75 genes linked to a greater risk of developing Alzheimer's, including 42 that were previously unknown.
Scientists compared the DNA of 100,000 people with the disease and compared them with over 600,000 healthy adults.
They have already used the findings to identify the likelihood of someone with loss of brain power developing full blown Alzheimer’s over the next three years.
A million people in Britain will be living with dementia in just three years’ time.
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Despite it being the UK’s biggest single killer, there is still currently no effective treatment to tackle the brain-wasting disease.
Researcher Professor Julie Williams, centre director at the UK Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff University, said: "This is a landmark study in the field of Alzheimer's research and is the culmination of 30 years' work.
"Genetics has and will continue to help us identify specific disease mechanisms which we can target therapeutically.
"This piece of work is a major leap forward in our mission to understand Alzheimer's, and ultimately produce several treatments needed to delay or prevent the disease."
Dr Susan Kohlhaas, Director of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “Genes are the instruction manual for life.
“Previous genetic discoveries underpin much of our current understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and the direction of research into new treatments.
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“Creating an extensive list of Alzheimer’s disease risk genes is like having the edge pieces of a puzzle put together, and while this work doesn’t give us the full picture, it provides a valuable framework for future developments.
“It’s going to take a concerted and global effort to develop life-changing treatments, but this seminal study also gives us hope that research will win, and it gives us the opportunity to work on new treatment targets.”
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