A gene that apparently can raise the risk of developing the most common form of dementia – Alzheimer’s disease, has been identified and this may help scientists develop new treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease.
Scientists analyzed DNA from more than 6,000 people from a variety of ethnic groups and found evidence implicating certain versions of the gene, called SORL1. It’s too soon to tell how much those gene versions raise the risk of getting Alzheimer’s, or what percentage of cases they account for, the researchers said. They said the effect on risk appears to be modest.
Researchers concluded “In addition to identifying the 4 allele of APOE and related effects, we pinpointed over a dozen potential Alzheimer disease susceptibility genes (ACE, CHRNB2, CST3, ESR1, GAPDHS, IDE, MTHFR, NCSTN, PRNP, PSEN1, TF, TFAM and TNF) with statistically significant allelic summary odds ratios (ranging from 1.11?1.38 for risk alleles and 0.92?0.67 for protective alleles). Our database provides a powerful tool for deciphering the genetics of Alzheimer disease, and it serves as a potential model for tracking the most viable gene candidates in other genetically complex diseases.”