SCIENTISTS have discovered a gene that could slash your risk of Alzheimer’s by up to 70 per cent.
The genetic variant allows disease-causing proteins to pass out of the brain instead of clumping up, US researchers found.
GettyDoctor viewing brain scans for possible disease or damage in clinic[/caption]
The discovery could lead to new treatments that help reduce people’s chances of developing dementia, they said.
Dr Caghan Kizil, of Columbia University, said: “Our findings suggest that some of these changes occur in the brain’s vasculature.
“We may be able to develop new types of therapies that mimic the gene’s protective effect to prevent or treat the disease.”
Around 944,000 Brits are currently living with dementia and experts predict the numbers will exceed one million by the end of the decade.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of the condition, and is thought to be caused by build-ups of proteins in the brain, including tau and amyloid.
There is currently no cure for the disease, although promising drugs to slow down its progress are currently in trials.
The study, published in Acta Neuropathologica, looked at the genes of people who are more at risk of Alzheimer’s but haven’t developed symptoms to see what was protecting them.
Researchers looked at data from 11,000 people, including those who had inherited the e4 form of the APOE gene, which significantly increases the risk of developing the disease.
Dr Badri Vardajan, of Columbia University, said: “These resilient people can tell us a lot about the disease and what genetic and non-genetic factors might provide protection.
“We hypothesised that these resilient people may have genetic variants that protect them from APOEe4.”
They found a genetic variant that affects fibronectin — a substance in the blood-brain barrier, which controls what can get in and out of the organ.
The variant helps prevent too much fibronectin building up, allowing amyloid proteins to escape and reducing their likelihood of causing Alzheimer’s.
Dr Kizil said: “Alzheimer’s disease may get started with amyloid deposits in the brain, but the disease manifestations are the result of changes that happen after the deposits appear.
“We may need to start clearing amyloid much earlier and we think that can be done through the bloodstream.
“That’s why we are excited about the discovery of this variant in fibronectin, which may be a good target for drug development.”
What are the early symptoms of cognitive decline?
WE all notice a natural decline in memory and thinking as we age.
This will be more pronounced in some people, as they experience memory and thinking problems that are mild but still noticeable.
This is described as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Unlike dementia sufferers, people with MCI can still get on with day-to-day life.
Research suggests that two out of 10 people over the age
of 65 have MCI, according to Alzheimer’s Research UK.
About one in 10 people who’ve received an MCI diagnosis will go on to develop dementia.
Symptoms of MCI include:
Memory – Misplacing items or having trouble
remembering recent conversations.
Attention problems – finding it difficult to concentrate,
e.g. while watching a TV programme or carrying out
duties at work
Disorientation – confusion about time, date or place
Thinking skills – problems with planning or completing
tasks, e.g. managing money, or cooking a meal
Problems with communication and finding the right words
Mood and behaviour changes – becoming irritable, anxious,
or feeling low
These symptoms may affect someone with MCI all the
time, or they might come and go.
There are steps we can take to keep our brains as healthy as possible. These include:
Not smoking
Doing regular physical activity
Staying mentally and socially active
Eating a healthy balanced diet
Limiting the amount of alcohol we drink
Having your hearing checked regularly
Keeping blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol
levels in check
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