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news.A study comparing genetic markers in the DNA of people with and without Alzheimer's disease has enabled researchers to identify a common gene, GAB2, which appears to increase a person's risk for developing the memory disabling illness.
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The researchers’ findings suggest that GAB2 modifies an individual’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease when associated with other genes, including APOE4.
The discovery, which was announced by researchers at the Translational Genomics Research Institute, Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, Kronos Science Laboratory and their collaborative partners, will be published in the June 7 issue of the Neuron journal.
To date, the most significant gene found to predispose an individual to late onset Alzheimer’s (LOAD) has been APOE4. In this latest study, researchers from seven organizations contributed to the genome-wide scan using Affymetrix microarray technology.
The team screened the DNA from 1,400 individuals who had been clinically assessed with Alzheimer’s prior death, and simultaneously examined more than 500,000 SNPs or genetic variations to characterize and confirm additional LOAD susceptibility genes.
Based on the genetics of this and other neuroscientific findings, researchers suggest the healthy form of the GAB2 gene may protect brain cells from developing tangles, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. If the findings are confirmed, this discovery could provide a target for future Alzheimer’s therapeutic drugs, the researchers said.
Until recently, researchers lacked the technology to examine the genetic components of a disease at such a high-level of detail. The study’s researchers said that by utilizing the Affymetrix 500K arrays, they rapidly produced a genetic map of each brain tissue sample and isolated the GAB2 gene relatively quickly.
“This discovery allows us to accelerate the development process for creating a new diagnostic test that is capable of detecting the presence of GAB2, and may ultimately help millions of individuals reach a more informed decision regarding the most appropriate type and timing of treatment,” said Dr Chris Heward, president of Kronos Science Laboratory.