GENES THAT BLOCK AMYLOID CAN PREVENT ALZHEIMER'S!
Can a Gene That Blocks Amyloid Prevent Alzheimer's? Yes. Thank you for spreading the word about Dementia & Alzheimer's Weekly.
Dr. Gandy's enthusiasm is based on the significant fact that this discovery bolsters the "Amyloid Hypothesis". Many of today's biggest clinical trials are betting on this hypothesis. It basically argues that if we can clear away the beta-amyloid plaques that appear with Alzheimer's, we can beat the disease.
In the video to the right, Michele Sullivan interviews Alzheimer's disease researcher Michael Wolfe, Ph.D., to explore the significance of this breakthrough on a more technical level.
The breakthrough was made by deCODE Genetics, a global leader in analyzing and understanding the human genome. They worked together with their colleagues from the biotech pharmaceutical company, Genentech.
The researchers reported in the journal Nature the discovery of a variant of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene that confers protection against both Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and cognitive decline in the elderly. The findings also indicate a linkage between age-related cognitive decline and late-onset forms of AD, the most common cause of dementia.
Study lead author Kari Stefansson, M.D., CEO of deCODE Genetics, said,
“Our results suggest that late-onset Alzheimer‘s disease may represent the extreme of more general age-related decline in cognitive function.”
“Also important, these data support certain Alzheimer‘s disease drug development programs—some of which are already in human clinical trials.”
Advertisement Alzheimer‘s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease associated with the production and accumulation of beta-amyloid peptides produced by cleaving bits off the APP. While several mutant forms of the APP gene have been linked to early-onset, aggressive forms of AD, there is limited evidence supporting a role for mutations in the gene in the more common late-onset form of the disease.
In searching for low-frequency variants of the APP gene associated with AD, deCODE scientists found a significant association with a mutation in whole genome sequence data from 1,795 Icelanders. The research team showed that the mutation is significantly more common in the study‘s elderly control group than in those with AD, suggesting that the mutation confers protection against the disease.
The Genentech team then tested these findings using in vitro cellular assays with wild-type APP and APP enriched with A673T, the mutation allele. Importantly, they showed a significantly reduced production of amyloid beta in cells with A673T.
Stefansson continued,
“Our genetic data indicate that the mutation is protective against Alzheimer‘s disease.”
“Our findings and the in vitro work done by Genentech also provide a proof of principle for the idea that blocking BACE1 cleavage of APP may protect against Alzheimer‘s, offering greater confidence to pharmaceutical companies with active BACE1 inhibitor drug development programs.”
Cognitive Decline in the Elderly To study the association of the protective mutation with general cognitive decline, the research team examined the frequency of the mutation in the original Icelandic control group of those cognitively intact at age 85. The team found an enrichment of the mutation in this group, consistent with its protective effect against AD.
Extending this work further, the team investigated cognitive function using a seven-category test in carriers of the mutation and non-carriers in the age range of 80 to 100 years old. The research team found a statistically significant difference between carriers and non-carriers, with the carriers of the mutation having a score indicative of better-conserved cognition. After removing known AD cases, the team again found that carriers had better cognitive function, suggesting that the mutation extends its protective effect to the elderly in general.
Stefansson reflected,
"The implication of these data is that general cognitive decline and late-onset Alzheimer‘s disease share biological pathways.”
“It also suggests that approaches to treating Alzheimer’s may have benefit to those elderly who do not carry the protective mutation, and do not suffer from AD.”
More info on this article
Related Videos & Articles deCODE: A Potential Step Up from Aricept deCODE's experimental drug not only offers the benefits of medications such as Aricept®, but additionally improves long term memory function in animal tests. Current drugs are mostly ineffective in this area.
Read more »
Genentech Exposes Alzheimer's Hijacker Genentech Inc. demonstrated the infamous APP mechanism is actually healthy until it is "hijacked" by Alzheimer's, causing the degeneration of nerve cells and fibers. This breakthrough potentially offers a whole host of new entry points in fighting Alzheimer's.
Read more »
The Tiny Mutation Behind the Alzheimer's Cascade Physical chemists show precisely how a minor mutation results in unexpected changes in a very delicate chemical balance. Read how the seemingly inconsequential mutation creates the build-up of the amyloid-beta plaques behind Alzheimer's.
Read more »
More Information About deCODE
Headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland, deCODE genetics is a global leader in analyzing and understanding the human genome. Using its unique expertise and population resources, deCODE has discovered genetic risk factors for dozens of common diseases ranging from cardiovascular disease to cancer.
In order to most rapidly realize the value of genetics for human health, deCODE partners with life sciences companies to accelerate their target discovery, validation, and prioritization efforts, yielding improved patient stratification for clinical trials and essential companion diagnostics. In addition, through its CLIA- and CAP-certified laboratory, deCODE offers DNA-based tests for gauging risk and empowering prevention of common diseases. deCODE also licenses its tests, intellectual property, and analytical tools to partner organizations. deCODE’s corporate information can be found at www.decode.com with information about our genetic testing services at www.decodehealth.com and www.decodeme.com.
Source:
deCODE Genetics
(Article thumbnail) Published:
Week of August 5 - August 12, 2012
Permalink:
http://alzheimersweekly.com/node/2438
Copyright:
© Copyright 2012. Alzheimer's Weekly LLC. All Rights Reserved.
. Welcome
Sign In Username or e-mail: * Password: * Advertisement Tell Me More About DVD by Teepa Snow Advertisement
Alzheimer's Dementia Activities:
Filling the Day with Meaning
SEE VIDEO Book Carousel
Newsletter
Just enter your Email:
Advertisement Advertisement <a href='http://d1.openx.org/ck.php?n=a80d5ec3&amp;cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE' target='_blank'><img src='http://d1.openx.org/avw.php?zoneid=264450&amp;cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE&amp;n=a80d5ec3' border='0' alt='' /></a> Get Alzheimer's & Dementia Weekly
Email: Or click to subscribe using your account with:
Alzheimer's & Dementia Updates Throughout the Day What You Get With Your Free Subscription to
Doctor-reviewed, sourced articles
This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:
verify here.
Click here to subscribe
Popular content Today's:
All time:
Last viewed:
Omega-3 is commonly recommended to prevent dementias such as Alzheimer's. Watch ChefMD Dr. John La Puma cook up an Omega-3 delight. (Recipe included.)
Read more »
Advertisement <a href='http://d1.openx.org/ck.php?n=a501a2bd&amp;cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE' target='_blank'><img src='http://d1.openx.org/avw.php?zoneid=272462&amp;cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE&amp;n=a501a2bd' border='0' alt='' /></a> Advertisement Amazon's Alzheimer's & Dementia StoreThe 36-Hour Day, fifth edition: The 36-H…Nancy L. Mace, Peter V. Rabins (Paperback - …$11.01THE CAREGIVER'S BIBLEMedReady P1600 Medication Dispenser …MedReady$169.00Light/Buzzer Pill AlarmNature's Way Organic Extra Virgin Coco…Nature's Way$8.49COCONUT OIL123>Privacy Advertisement <a href='http://d1.openx.org/ck.php?n=aae243ce&amp;cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE' target='_blank'><img src='http://d1.openx.org/avw.php?zoneid=272447&amp;cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE&amp;n=aae243ce' border='0' alt='' /></a>
What Are Alzheimer's & Dementia? Alzheimer's is
the most common type of dementia.
Shortcuts FORUMS Ask Nurse Dina Bulletin Board Caregivers I Have Dementia LIBRARY Diagnosis Caregivers Medicine Inspiration Practical Matters Prevention Therapy Research TYPES OF DEMENTIA Alzheimer's Lewy Body Frontotemporal Vascular Huntington's Rare Types Look-A-Likes Overview DIRECTORY Dementia Services Add Free Listing facebook For information on any book, DVD or product, click here.
Help About Us Advertise Contact Us
Forum Guidelines Blog Guidelines Advertising Policy Disclaimer Privacy Policy Terms of Use
© Copyright 2012. Alzheimer's Weekly LLC. All Rights Reserved.
This material is provided for educational purposes only. Alzheimer's Weekly does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Dr. Gandy's enthusiasm is based on the significant fact that this discovery bolsters the "Amyloid Hypothesis". Many of today's biggest clinical trials are betting on this hypothesis. It basically argues that if we can clear away the beta-amyloid plaques that appear with Alzheimer's, we can beat the disease.
In the video to the right, Michele Sullivan interviews Alzheimer's disease researcher Michael Wolfe, Ph.D., to explore the significance of this breakthrough on a more technical level.
The breakthrough was made by deCODE Genetics, a global leader in analyzing and understanding the human genome. They worked together with their colleagues from the biotech pharmaceutical company, Genentech.
The researchers reported in the journal Nature the discovery of a variant of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene that confers protection against both Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and cognitive decline in the elderly. The findings also indicate a linkage between age-related cognitive decline and late-onset forms of AD, the most common cause of dementia.
Study lead author Kari Stefansson, M.D., CEO of deCODE Genetics, said,
“Our results suggest that late-onset Alzheimer‘s disease may represent the extreme of more general age-related decline in cognitive function.”
“Also important, these data support certain Alzheimer‘s disease drug development programs—some of which are already in human clinical trials.”
Advertisement Alzheimer‘s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease associated with the production and accumulation of beta-amyloid peptides produced by cleaving bits off the APP. While several mutant forms of the APP gene have been linked to early-onset, aggressive forms of AD, there is limited evidence supporting a role for mutations in the gene in the more common late-onset form of the disease.
In searching for low-frequency variants of the APP gene associated with AD, deCODE scientists found a significant association with a mutation in whole genome sequence data from 1,795 Icelanders. The research team showed that the mutation is significantly more common in the study‘s elderly control group than in those with AD, suggesting that the mutation confers protection against the disease.
The Genentech team then tested these findings using in vitro cellular assays with wild-type APP and APP enriched with A673T, the mutation allele. Importantly, they showed a significantly reduced production of amyloid beta in cells with A673T.
Stefansson continued,
“Our genetic data indicate that the mutation is protective against Alzheimer‘s disease.”
“Our findings and the in vitro work done by Genentech also provide a proof of principle for the idea that blocking BACE1 cleavage of APP may protect against Alzheimer‘s, offering greater confidence to pharmaceutical companies with active BACE1 inhibitor drug development programs.”
Cognitive Decline in the Elderly To study the association of the protective mutation with general cognitive decline, the research team examined the frequency of the mutation in the original Icelandic control group of those cognitively intact at age 85. The team found an enrichment of the mutation in this group, consistent with its protective effect against AD.
Extending this work further, the team investigated cognitive function using a seven-category test in carriers of the mutation and non-carriers in the age range of 80 to 100 years old. The research team found a statistically significant difference between carriers and non-carriers, with the carriers of the mutation having a score indicative of better-conserved cognition. After removing known AD cases, the team again found that carriers had better cognitive function, suggesting that the mutation extends its protective effect to the elderly in general.
Stefansson reflected,
"The implication of these data is that general cognitive decline and late-onset Alzheimer‘s disease share biological pathways.”
“It also suggests that approaches to treating Alzheimer’s may have benefit to those elderly who do not carry the protective mutation, and do not suffer from AD.”
More info on this article
Related Videos & Articles deCODE: A Potential Step Up from Aricept deCODE's experimental drug not only offers the benefits of medications such as Aricept®, but additionally improves long term memory function in animal tests. Current drugs are mostly ineffective in this area.
Read more »
Genentech Exposes Alzheimer's Hijacker Genentech Inc. demonstrated the infamous APP mechanism is actually healthy until it is "hijacked" by Alzheimer's, causing the degeneration of nerve cells and fibers. This breakthrough potentially offers a whole host of new entry points in fighting Alzheimer's.
Read more »
The Tiny Mutation Behind the Alzheimer's Cascade Physical chemists show precisely how a minor mutation results in unexpected changes in a very delicate chemical balance. Read how the seemingly inconsequential mutation creates the build-up of the amyloid-beta plaques behind Alzheimer's.
Read more »
More Information About deCODE
Headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland, deCODE genetics is a global leader in analyzing and understanding the human genome. Using its unique expertise and population resources, deCODE has discovered genetic risk factors for dozens of common diseases ranging from cardiovascular disease to cancer.
In order to most rapidly realize the value of genetics for human health, deCODE partners with life sciences companies to accelerate their target discovery, validation, and prioritization efforts, yielding improved patient stratification for clinical trials and essential companion diagnostics. In addition, through its CLIA- and CAP-certified laboratory, deCODE offers DNA-based tests for gauging risk and empowering prevention of common diseases. deCODE also licenses its tests, intellectual property, and analytical tools to partner organizations. deCODE’s corporate information can be found at www.decode.com with information about our genetic testing services at www.decodehealth.com and www.decodeme.com.
Source:
deCODE Genetics
(Article thumbnail) Published:
Week of August 5 - August 12, 2012
Permalink:
http://alzheimersweekly.com/node/2438
Copyright:
© Copyright 2012. Alzheimer's Weekly LLC. All Rights Reserved.
. Welcome
Sign In Username or e-mail: * Password: * Advertisement Tell Me More About DVD by Teepa Snow Advertisement
Alzheimer's Dementia Activities:
Filling the Day with Meaning
SEE VIDEO Book Carousel
- When My Grandma Sings
- Caregivers: Take Your Oxygen First
- Feed Your Brain, Lose Your Belly
- Connecting the Dots
- I Still Do
Newsletter
Just enter your Email:
Advertisement Advertisement <a href='http://d1.openx.org/ck.php?n=a80d5ec3&amp;cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE' target='_blank'><img src='http://d1.openx.org/avw.php?zoneid=264450&amp;cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE&amp;n=a80d5ec3' border='0' alt='' /></a> Get Alzheimer's & Dementia Weekly
Email: Or click to subscribe using your account with:
Alzheimer's & Dementia Updates Throughout the Day What You Get With Your Free Subscription to
Doctor-reviewed, sourced articles
This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:
verify here.
Click here to subscribe
Popular content Today's:
- What’s Bad About Using Coconut Oil for Dementia?
- How much daily coconut oil helps Alzheimer's?
- Average Life Span of Person with Alzheimer's
- Coconut oil & Alzheimer's
- Axona, MCT & Coconut Oil: Differences & Benefits
All time:
- Coconut oil & Alzheimer's
- Axona, MCT & Coconut Oil: Differences & Benefits
- The Keto-Dementia Diet
- 10 Types of Dementia
- Stages of Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)
Last viewed:
- 4 Doctors On Coconut Oil & Alzheimer's
- Can a Gene That Blocks Amyloid Prevent Alzheimer's? Yes.
- Mom wants no sunlight at all/ Advice?
- How Quickly Does Alzheimer's Progress?
- Nursing Homes Accelerate Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer's Patients
Omega-3 is commonly recommended to prevent dementias such as Alzheimer's. Watch ChefMD Dr. John La Puma cook up an Omega-3 delight. (Recipe included.)
Read more »
Advertisement <a href='http://d1.openx.org/ck.php?n=a501a2bd&amp;cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE' target='_blank'><img src='http://d1.openx.org/avw.php?zoneid=272462&amp;cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE&amp;n=a501a2bd' border='0' alt='' /></a> Advertisement Amazon's Alzheimer's & Dementia StoreThe 36-Hour Day, fifth edition: The 36-H…Nancy L. Mace, Peter V. Rabins (Paperback - …$11.01THE CAREGIVER'S BIBLEMedReady P1600 Medication Dispenser …MedReady$169.00Light/Buzzer Pill AlarmNature's Way Organic Extra Virgin Coco…Nature's Way$8.49COCONUT OIL123>Privacy Advertisement <a href='http://d1.openx.org/ck.php?n=aae243ce&amp;cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE' target='_blank'><img src='http://d1.openx.org/avw.php?zoneid=272447&amp;cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE&amp;n=aae243ce' border='0' alt='' /></a>
What Are Alzheimer's & Dementia? Alzheimer's is
the most common type of dementia.
Shortcuts FORUMS Ask Nurse Dina Bulletin Board Caregivers I Have Dementia LIBRARY Diagnosis Caregivers Medicine Inspiration Practical Matters Prevention Therapy Research TYPES OF DEMENTIA Alzheimer's Lewy Body Frontotemporal Vascular Huntington's Rare Types Look-A-Likes Overview DIRECTORY Dementia Services Add Free Listing facebook For information on any book, DVD or product, click here.
Help About Us Advertise Contact Us
Forum Guidelines Blog Guidelines Advertising Policy Disclaimer Privacy Policy Terms of Use
© Copyright 2012. Alzheimer's Weekly LLC. All Rights Reserved.
This material is provided for educational purposes only. Alzheimer's Weekly does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
