Gene find is major Alzheimer's breakthrough

Mon Sep 7 2009 11:25:20

A "leap forward" in Alzheimer's research with the potential to cut rates of the disease by a fifth has been taken by gene scientists, it has been revealed.

Two international British and French-led teams identified three new genes that are closely linked to the illness.

Cancelling out their effects could prevent almost 100,000 cases of "common" late-onset Alzheimer's a year in the UK.

Clues from the genes are already challenging previous assumptions about how the disease develops and pointing the way towards possible new therapies.

Professor Julie Williams, who led the British scientists, described the breakthrough as "the biggest advance in Alzheimer's research in 15 years".

Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, affecting more than half the 700,000 people in the UK suffering from the condition.

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