- Alzheimer’s disease is the commonest form of dementia, causing up to 70% of the 55 million dementia cases worldwide.
- Around half of those who develop Alzheimer’s disease have a variant of one gene — APOEe4— that increases the risk of developing the condition.
- This gene variant prevents cells clearing the beta-amyloid plaques that are characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Now, a study in nematodes and mice has identified a molecule that can inhibit APOEe4 and allow the cells to clear these beta-amyloid deposits, and potentially alleviate Alzheimer’s disease symptoms.
With an aging global population, dementia is a growing concern worldwide. A recent forecast by
Of these dementia cases, according to the
For dementia, the greatest risk factor is aging — with the likelihood of developing dementia increasing each year
Genetics can also influence whether a person develops dementia: About 1% of cases of Alzheimer’s disease are entirely caused by genes, and other genes increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
The gene that expresses
Dr. Emer MacSweeney, CEO and medical director at Re:Cognition Health, told Medical News Today:
“In 2018, it was shown those with an APOEe4 gene are less able to clear waste products from the brain and, therefore, more susceptible to building up toxic levels of amyloid and tau protein, which is the hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. The toxic amyloid and tau protein relentlessly destroy further brain cells, with the progression of the characteristic symptoms of [Alzheimer’s…
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