New finding: GAB2 gene linked to Alzheimer's disease

According to a new study by scientists, the GAB2 gene is involved in the late onset of Alzheimer's disease. In people with damaged versions of this gene, the risk of getting the disease increased by 4 times.

A group of experts from 15 international research institutes, including the Institute of Transgenic Genetics Research - TGen (USA) and the Institute of Neurology (UK), have published a large, breakthrough study on disease. Alzheimer's. This study has been considered the most important since scientists have discovered the APOE4 gene that is involved in this disease.

New discoveries of GAB2 gene association with Alzeimer disease help build new diagnostic methods for early detection and timely treatment.(Photo: Themoneytimes)

Research results show that the GAB2 gene, in combination with other genes - including APOE4, is directly related to the risk of late onset of Alzheimer's. In people with damaged versions of this gene, the risk of getting the disease can be increased by up to 4 times.

In this study, Dr. Eric Reiman of Tgen and colleagues analyzed DNA of 1,411 people, including 861 with Alzheimer's disease. And among the 1,411 people, 644 had the ApoE4 gene and most had it.

The team said healthy GAB2 genes could potentially limit the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. But when the gene is damaged, it causes a protein disorder in the brain, causing the risk of disease to skyrocket.

To explore the role of this gene, Dr. Eric Reiman, of T-Gen, and colleagues have 'dumb', neutralized, GAB2 genes in nerve cells and observed the proliferation of proteins. TAU - a key protein that causes these disorders.

Professor Clive Ballard, director of research at the Alzheimer's Association, said: 'This impressive study shows that a normal gene still has the ability to increase the risk of dementia by four times.' He said: 'This is one of the most important findings about the factors that increase risk since ApoE4 was discovered. GAB2 is related to the brain disorders of Alzheimer's patients'.

According to the research team, 'this is a major breakthrough in the study of genes linked to Alzheimer's disease and has an important role in the clinical treatment of this disease'.

PET tests to diagnose Alzheimer's disease. Left: normal human brain;
right: Alzheimer's brain. (Photo: Alzheimers)

Dr. Dietrich Stephan, Director of the Division of Neurological Genetics at the T-Gen Institute, said: 'Technology today allows us to explore the human genome more widely, providing a clearer understanding. about biological mechanisms and help clinical treatment achieve better results'.

For this study, Dr. Chris Heward, director of Kronos Science Laboratory (USA), said: 'This new discovery allows us to accelerate the process of establishing a new, potentially diagnostic diagnostic test. The presence of GAB2 is now available, thereby helping millions of people to be diagnosed early and treated promptly. '

Currently, there are more than 8 million people in the world are suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Late-onset Alzheimer's affects 10% of people over 65 and half of people over 85 years old.

Alzheimer

Alzheimer's is a neurodegenerative disease that causes dementia in the elderly.This disease occurs more in women than men.As the fourth leading cause of death for the elderly, this disease gradually destroys memory and ability to think, realize, communicate and daily activities.

Typical signs: memory loss; distracting thoughts; unexplained weight loss; anxious, suspicious; hallucinations and difficulties in physical activity.

Factors that contribute to disease risk: brain nerve damage, gene mutation, reduced postmenopausal estrogen hormone, environmental toxin infection, hypertension, Down syndrome, etc.

Doctors diagnose Alzheimer's disease based on EEG, blood tests, cerebrospinal fluid tests, and some other imaging tests (CT Scan, MRI, SPECT, PET).

Quang Thinh

According to the BBC, All Headline News, Pharmaceutical Business Review, Wikipedia, VNN