Two teams of European scientists say they have discovered new genetic variants associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The variants account for about 20 percent of the genetic risk of the disease, and may lead to a better understanding of its biology, the scientists say.
One of the teams, led by Julie Williams of Cardiff University in Wales, scanned the genomes of about 19,000 patients, the largest study so far conducted on Alzheimer’s, and turned up two variants that have a statistically significant association with the disease. A second study, led by Philippe Amouyel of the University of Lille in France, also found two variants, one of which is the same as detected by the Cardiff team.
The fact that two studies could agree on at least one gene is an advance. More than 550 genes have been proposed in various small-scale studies as the cause of Alzheimer’s, but all have failed the test of replication by others, Dr. Amouyel said.
READ MORE @ NY TIMES
Showing posts with label genetic risk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label genetic risk. Show all posts
Monday, September 7, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Touted "Depression Risk Gene" May Not Add to Risk After All
A gene variation long thought to increase a person’s risk for major depression when paired with stressful life events may actually have no effect, according to a new analysis. The result challenges a common approach to studying depression risk factors.
Most mental disorders are thought to be caused by a combination of many genetic risk factors interacting with environmental triggers. Finding the exact combinations of factors, however, has been a significant challenge. Advances during the past decade have led to powerful tools for studying how genes and the environment interact to affect the risk for disease. In 2003, these advances allowed scientists to show that variation in a gene called the serotonin transporter gene affected the risk of major depression in people who had a number of stressful life events over a 5-year period.
Serotonin is a chemical messenger that helps brain cells communicate. The serotonin transporter directs serotonin from the space between brain cells back into the cell for reuse. Since the most widely prescribed class of medication for treating major depression acts by blocking this protein, it’s been a prime suspect in mood and anxiety disorders.
READ MORE @ NIH Research Matters
Most mental disorders are thought to be caused by a combination of many genetic risk factors interacting with environmental triggers. Finding the exact combinations of factors, however, has been a significant challenge. Advances during the past decade have led to powerful tools for studying how genes and the environment interact to affect the risk for disease. In 2003, these advances allowed scientists to show that variation in a gene called the serotonin transporter gene affected the risk of major depression in people who had a number of stressful life events over a 5-year period.
Serotonin is a chemical messenger that helps brain cells communicate. The serotonin transporter directs serotonin from the space between brain cells back into the cell for reuse. Since the most widely prescribed class of medication for treating major depression acts by blocking this protein, it’s been a prime suspect in mood and anxiety disorders.
READ MORE @ NIH Research Matters
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