Big Data Reveals New Alzheimer’s Risk Genes

A trio of genes have been newly identified to have a link to Alzheimer’s Disease and the chance of an individual contracting the cognitive disorder. New research, conducted by medical scientists in the United Kingdom, was published in Translational Psychiatry detailing the latest findings into these genetic markers.

The research looked at the children of Alzheimer’s patients, as well as the patients themselves. More than three hundred thousand people were part of the pool of participants examined by the researchers. By comparing the genetic code of these individuals, scientists were able to pinpoint new avenues for later research. The new findings may lead to drug therapies that can better combat the effects of the disease, or lead to better understanding of not just inherent genetic risk factors, but possibly any lifestyle reasons for why some individuals contract Alzheimer’s and other do not.

With this information, doctors are hopeful more Alzheimer’s patients can be helped to more effectively combat the effects of the effects of dementia. While a cure does not yet exist for Alzheimer’s, earlier detection and a more rapid beginning to what treatments and assistance medical science can offer does slow the mental decline. Patients who can detect and begin treating their Alzheimer’s sooner have a better prognosis, and will descend into the most helpless stages of the dementia later.