Alzheimers disease is a growing burden around the world. Yet basic questions such as what causes it or how to diagnose it remain unanswered. A global team of scientists searched through the DNA of more than 50,000 people in the hunt for clues. The study, published in Nature Genetics, identified 11 new genes on top of the ten already discovered. All can increase the chances of developing the dementia. One of the lead scientists, Professor Julie Williams from Cardiff University, said working out the genes role in Alzheimers could lead to treatments. Its not, you know, 21 different theories about Alzheimers. They are forming patterns so we can look at a few different processes and try and understand those and then produce treatments from there. Those patterns centre on the immune system, how the body deals with cholesterol and how cells in the brain transport material. But this is the first step. Further studies are now needed to identify precisely what is going wrong and to begin the slow process of converting the findings into treatments.
Posted on: Sun, 17 Nov 2013 14:06:24 +0000