Four More Genes Identified in Alzheimer’s Research

Old age is a part of life, but along with old age comes the possibility of disease and other frightening ideas.  One of the most common diseases that affects older, and aging people in society is a horrible disease known as Alzheimer's.  Alzheimer's is a type of dementia, loss of brain function, which gradually gets worse over time, affecting simple things such as memory, thinking, and behavior.  When diagnosing this disease factors such as memory impairment, problems with language, decision-making ability, judgment, and personality should be considered because they are crucial features to this particular disease.  Alzheimer's, as of now, is an incurable disease, that affects 5.3 million people today.  Alzheimer's affects up to ten percent of people 65 and over and is increasing to 50 percent at 85 or older.  It is a serious disease affecting an entire age group of our population.  It is no means a normal part of life.  As we age, there is a risk of developing the disease, because it deals with old age, however it is not a certain thing.  Having a close blood relative who developed the disease increases the risks, but the only real conclusion scientists can come up with is that the risk for developing Alzheimer's lies within both genetic and biological factors.  Alzheimer's research is being conducted all around the country, all the time.  It is a fascinating disease, that doctors and scientists everywhere want to find an answer to.  Recent studies have identified four genes implicated in causing the disease.

Although they can only identify five or six specific genes out of the 100 genes linked to Alzheimer’s that currently are now known, the development signals a “monumental breakthrough” that could lead to the identification of nearly all the suspect genes in three to five years.  Despite this progress doctors still can't predict when the disease will be preventable or curable. 

Another major value of discovering more genes implicated in Alzheimer’s is that it will help pharmaceutical companies create drugs aimed specifically at the faulty genes. It also will help with earlier predictions of who is at risk, so they can make lifestyle changes.  This is a major break through in science.  Hopefully this will continue to make progress in the direction of finding a cure for this terrible disease. 

 

Love & Peace