Posted by Healthyou, Consumer Health Educator on Friday, November 8, 2013
Under: Aging
A gene which is said to help the immune system control
inflammation in the brain has been linked to alzheimer's disease.
According
to a recent study the problem version of the gene triples the chances
of one developing the disease.
Medical
experts are excited about the discovery, because it paves the way for
more research and new treatment. They believe that treatment to correct
the gene's malfunction may help in the treatment of the alzheimer's.
The
gene is called TREM2, and is present in only 1% of the population.
Until
recently medical experts believed that only one gene raises the risk
for alzheimer's disease. Whereas 17 % of the population has that gene,
more than 1/2 of alzheimer's patients do.
The
recent study has identified the TREM2 as a another.