11 New Alzheimer's Genes Discovered

Researchers from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine have discovered 11 new Alzheimer's genes that could potentially be used to treat the cognitive disorder.

The study gives a broader view on various genetic factors that contribute to the health issue, including new areas that may target the immune system and where a genetic overlap can increase issues in neurodegenerative diseases including multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.

Background information from the study notes that in 2011, one of the world's four largest research meetings on the genetics of Alzheimer's disease discussed newly discovered genes involving the health problem. Team members of the International Genomics of Alzheimer's Project (IGAP) worked to collect genetic information from 25,000 Alzheimer's disease patients and 49,038 controls via 15 countries to perform the two-stage meta-analysis that resulted in the discovery of 11 new genes via the addition of those already know, making 13.

Study authors led the analysis teams for the consortium that included all forms on the genetics of Alzheimer's. The study concludes with the following, courtesy of a press release.

"Several of the genes the researchers identified confirmed known biological pathways of Alzheimer's disease, including the role of the amyloid (SORL1, CASS4) and tau (CASS4, FERMT2) pathways. Newly discovered genes involved in the immune response and inflammation (HLA-DRB5/DRB1, INPP5D, MEF2C) reinforced a pathway implied by previous work (on CR1, TREM2). Additional genes related to cell migration (PTK2B), lipid transport and endocytosis (SORL1) also were confirmed, and new hypotheses emerged related to hippocampal synaptic function (MEF2C, PTK2B), the cytoskeleton and axonal transport (CELF1, NME8, CASS4), as well as myeloid and microglial cell functions (INPP5D).

"One of the more significant new associations was found in the HLA-DRB5/DRB1 region, one of the most complex parts of the genome, which plays a role in the immune system and inflammatory response. It also has been associated with multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease, suggesting that the diseases where abnormal proteins accumulate in the brain may have a common mechanism involved, and possibly a common drug target."

"The discovery of novel pathways is very encouraging considering the limited success of Alzheimer's disease drugs tested so far," Pericak-Vance said, via the release. "Our findings bring us closer toward identifying new drug targets for Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. We'll continue to expand and analyze our data set with this incredible group so that we can better understand the genetic influences on this devastating disease, and find new medical and therapeutic interventions."

More information regarding the study can be found via Nature Genetics.