Alzheimer's gene

1995/02/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Genetika

Patients with Alzheimer's disease will soon be able to predict how fast the disease will develop. This can help patients who can develop an aggressive form of Alzheimer's get the right help.

The gene called ApoE is related a year ago to Alzheimer's. ApoE encodes a protein that carries fats through the body. People who have a particular form of this gene are twice as likely to develop the disease as the remaining populations. This form is called > 4. Those who have a tragedy to inherit two copies of that defective gene have the possibility of developing the disease 10 times more. On the other hand, another form of the gene, > 2, seems to hinder the onset of the disease.