Scientists identify genetic markers for Alzheimer's
Researchers have discovered a new set of genetic markers for Alzheimer's that can predict the risk of developing neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer’s.
The recent study revealed mutations that affect the build-up of certain tau proteins in the brain.
A team of American scientists from the Washington University School of Medicine analyzed genetic information from more than 1,200 people which is significantly more expanded than previous studies in this area.
They found that high levels of these tau proteins increase the chance of disease involvement.
Tangles of a kind of tau known as phosphorylated tau play vital role in appearance of the disease.
"We anticipate that knowledge about the role of these genes in Alzheimer's disease may lead to the identification of new targets from therapies or new animal or cellular models of the disease,” said the study leader Dr. Alison Goate.
British experts believe that recent study demonstrates more genetic markers that have been linked to the development of dementia.
"In discovering new genes that have a link to Alzheimer's, this robust study helps scientists to better understand the way the brain changes when dementia develops,” Director of Research and Development at the Alzheimer's Society in the UK Dr. Doug Brown explained.
"Research such as this may in the future help us to engineer treatments aimed at stopping such changes and therefore slowing or stopping the effects of dementia," he added.
Lifestyle factors such as eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, not smoking, and getting blood pressure and cholesterol under controlled play significant role in reducing risk of dementia, Dr. Brown stressed.
Source: presstv.com
