Disclaimer: We may earn a commission if you make any purchase by clicking our links. Please see our detailed guide here.

Follow us on:

Google News
Whatsapp

13 new rare gene variants of Alzheimer’s identified

IANS
IANS
Meet the voice behind Indo-Asian News Service (IANS), a storyteller navigating the currents of global events with precision and depth. Crafting narratives that bridge cultures, IANS brings you the pulse of the world in every word

Join the Opinion Leaders Network

Join the Techgenyz Opinion Leaders Network today and become part of a vibrant community of change-makers. Together, we can create a brighter future by shaping opinions, driving conversations, and transforming ideas into reality.

Researchers have identified 13 new rare genomic variants associated with Alzheimer’s disease in a first-of-its-kind human genome study.

The lesser-known gene mutations may hold critical information about the biology of the disease and can lead to the development of new drugs for the devastating neurological condition, according to researchers from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in the US.

The new gene variants are linked with the functioning of synapses — the junctions that transmit information between neurons – the development of neurons and neuroplasticity — the ability of neurons to reorganize the brain’s neural network.

“This paper brings us to the next stage of disease-gene discovery by allowing us to look at the entire sequence of the human genome and assess the rare genomic variants, which we couldn’t do before,” said lead author Dmitry Prokopenko from MGH’s McCance Center for Brain Health.

The results are published in the Alzheimer’s and Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.

“Rare gene variants are the dark matter of the human genome,” said Rudolph Tanzi, director of the hospital’s Genetics and Ageing Research Unit.

Of the three billion pairs of nucleotide bases that form a complete set of DNA, each person has 50 to 60 million gene variants — and 77 per cent are rare, he added.

For the study, the researchers performed whole genome sequencing on the genomes of 2,247 individuals from 605 families that include multiple members who have been diagnosed with AD.

They also analysed genome sequencing datasets on 1,669 unrelated individuals.

Join 10,000+ Fellow Readers

Get Techgenyz’s roundup delivered to your inbox curated with the most important for you that keeps you updated about the future tech, mobile, space, gaming, business and more.

Recomended

Partner With Us

Digital advertising offers a way for your business to reach out and make much-needed connections with your audience in a meaningful way. Advertising on Techgenyz will help you build brand awareness, increase website traffic, generate qualified leads, and grow your business.

Power Your Business

Solutions you need to super charge your business and drive growth

More from this topic