ST. LOUIS, Mo. (Ivanhoe Newswire) – More than 6.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. Memory loss is often the first sign of Alzheimer’s disease. But decades before people begin to fade away, their brain starts to show signs of changes. Breakthrough research looks at how one gene may be the key to early diagnosis.
Actor Chris Hemsworth is known in the movies as the indestructible Thor, but in real-life, even the strongest can be struck down by debilitating diseases.
Researchers believe the APOE gene is important in laying down myelin, which is a protein that insulates neurons in the brain.
Assistant Professor of Radiology at the Washington University School of Medicine, Brian Gordon, PhD explains, “If you happen to be lucky and get an E2 form of it, you have slight protection against Alzheimer’s disease. If you have this one that’s an E4 polymorphism, your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease goes up about fourfold if you have one copy and about twelvefold if you have two copies of this gene.”
Researchers want to know what it is about this gene that’s leading to an elevated risk.
“The first domino that falls is this protein called amyloid begins building up in the brain. And this is a slow progression,” Professor Gordon adds.
You can see the progression of plaque over a decade. And by learning why some people are protected and some are not could lead to new treatments to stop the progression of the disease before any signs or symptoms appear.
The research also shows that there is a difference between men and women when it comes to how the APOE gene impacts them. For men, an APOE3 gene and APOE4 gene didn’t have a huge effect on their symptoms, while in women, it did. That may be the reason researchers believe men seem to show signs sooner, and although women’s symptoms may appear later, the symptoms seem to strike stronger and women decline faster.
Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Producer; Roque Correa, Videographer & Editor.
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Source:
MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS
RESEARCH SUMMARY
TOPIC: ALZHEIMER’S ON THE BRAIN: ONE GENE COULD PROTECT YOU
REPORT: MB #5225
BACKGROUND: Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. In most people with Alzheimer’s, symptoms first appear later in life. Estimates vary, but experts suggest that more than 6 million Americans, most of them age 65 or older, may have Alzheimer’s.
(Source: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-disease-fact-sheet)
DIAGNOSING: The symptoms of Alzheimer’s can vary from one person to another. Memory problems are typically one of the first signs of the disease. Decline in non-memory aspects of cognition, such as finding the right word, trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships, and impaired reasoning or judgment, may also signal the early stages of Alzheimer’s. As the disease progresses, symptoms become more severe and include increased confusion and behavior changes. To diagnose Alzheimer’s, physicians may use medical history, mental status tests, physical and neurological exams, diagnostic tests and brain imaging.
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/diagnosis)
NEW TECHNOLOGY: Ten years ago, researchers knew of only 10 genes linked with Alzheimer’s. Today, scientists have identified more than 70 genetic regions associated with Alzheimer’s. Understanding which genes play a role — and what role they play — may help identify new methods to prevent, delay, or treat dementia. One well-known gene that influences Alzheimer’s risk is the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene. The APOE gene is involved in making a protein that helps carry cholesterol and other types of fat in the bloodstream. Problems in this process are thought to contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s. Researchers are also finding other rare genetic variants, in addition to APOE 2, that appear to provide some protection against developing Alzheimer’s.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT, PLEASE CONTACT:
Judy Martin Finch Diane Duke Williams
martinju@wustl.edu williamsdia@wustl.edu
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