HudsonAlpha Researchers Help Identify Genetic Change That Is Causing Alzheimer’s, Opening Door For Prevention Efforts

By HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology

Scientists at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology have helped identify a genetic change that is causing Alzheimer’s disease, expanding what we know about how the disease can be inherited and giving participants in the study an opportunity to join prevention trials.

Researchers looked at 93 members of a family in Colombia that had a history of inherited Alzheimer’s disease. They found that 26 of them had a never-before-identified mutation on PSEN1, a heavily studied gene known to cause Alzheimer’s. By discovering new mutations, scientists are better able to understand how the gene works as a whole.

Current drug trials aim to alleviate Alzheimer’s symptoms through early treatment, and in unique families like those identified in this study, there is the opportunity to start therapy years before symptoms begin. By identifying this mutation, scientists hope to give affected individuals the chance to participate in these trials early to maximize the chance of a therapeutic benefit.

To read the full article click here to visit the Alabama Newscenter website.

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