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New studies on genetics in Alzheimer’s disease

September 10, 2009 Brain Fitness No Comments

New research published this week gives new clues to the genes related to developing Alzheimer’s disease. Two groups independently reported this week that the gene CLU was related to research participants’ chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease. CLU has the genetic material that allows the body to create a substance called clusterin. Clusterin has multiple functions, but importantly is involved in lipid transport (moving fatty substances in the body) and apoptosis (programmed cell death).

Clusterin is also called apolipoprotein J, and may be involved in removing amyloid plaques from the body. These plaques are key parts of the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease. People who have certain forms of the gene are at higher risk for Alzheimer’s. The finding is reported this week in the journal Nature Genetics. Click here for the online report. Another group in France also report on the CLU gene.

The two groups reported on two other genes that may also be involved in Alzheimer’s pathology. Until recently, we have only been fairly sure that the gene for apolipoprotein E was a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. These new studies significantly advance our understanding of the role genes may have in developing Alzheimer’s disease.

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