Search for Alzheimer’s gene clues launched
The largest study of the genetic origins of Alzheimer's disease is set to begin, thanks to a £1.3 million grant from the Wellcome Trust medical research charity. The researchers will scan the genes of 6,000 people with late-onset Alzheimer's disease, and compare them to those of 8,000 healthy people from the UK and the US. The study aims to identify genetic variations that are associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Professor Julie Williams from the University of Cardiff will lead the study, and will work in collaboration with researchers from the Wellcome Trust's Sanger Institute. 'Alzheimer's is a genetically complicated story involving many genes, so we need large sample sizes to make sure any genetic links that we find are not mere coincidence', explained Professor Williams, adding that 'with access to 14,000 DNA samples, our study is the largest genetic study ever to look at Alzheimer's and will undoubtedly produce some valuable insights into what causes this devastating illness'.
The UK's Alzheimer's Society states that more than half of the world's 18 million dementia sufferers have Alzheimer's disease and that with the world's ageing population, they believe that this number could grow to 34 million by the middle of this century. Over 700,000 in the UK have the disease, but only £11 is invested for every Alzheimer's sufferer, compared with £289 of research for every cancer patient, the society said, while welcoming the new study.
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'Largest' Alzheimer's gene study
£1.3m study into Alzheimer’s