A New Genetic Test Predicts If and When You’ll Develop Alzheimer’s – Futurism

In the US, there are 5.5 million Americans with Alzheimers adiseasedefined by the progressive deterioration of brain function, most often affecting thinking and memory, that typically begins during middle or old age. Among the 5.5 million patients, the vast majorityare at least 65 years old, while an estimated 200,000 suffer from whats known as early-onset Alzheimers.

Assessing someones lifetime risk ofcontracting the disease is of concern not just to patients and families,but also healthcare providers. Alzheimers risk factors are notoriously hard to identify, but getting that information as early as possible can help prepare patients and families to manage the disease, andin many cases support preventative efforts.

Gaining more insight into a patients risk may soon becomeremarkably easier: researchers from the University of California San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine and University of California San Francisco (UCSF) have createda genetic test that can calculate a patients age-specific risk of Alzheimers.

The method looks for 31 genetic markers,gathered from over 70,000 individuals, including patients suffering from Alzheimers as well ashealthy elderly patients. Scientists based the test on background genetic variations which, individually, have a tiny influence on Alzheimers but collectively, their effect is substantial enough that they can accurately predict an individuals risk of developing the disease.

Preventing the development of dementia symptoms is the holy grail of Alzheimers research but to succeed we first need accurate methods to predict who is most likely to develop the condition. This studys approach was fairly successful at predicting the likelihood of someone developing dementia over the coming year, but needs to be tested further in mixed, non-US populations, said James Pickett, head of research at Alzheimers Society in a report published by The Guardian.

It should be noted that scoring high on this genetic test doesnt automatically mean someone will develop Alzheimers. Nor does it imply that scoring low means someone would be considered immune to the disease. Genetics is one of several factorsthat determines a persons risk fordevelopingany disease, including Alzheimers.

From a clinical perspective, the [test] provides a novel way not just to assess an individuals lifetime risk of developing Alzheimers disease, but also to predict the age of disease onset, said senior author Dr Anders Dale, of the University of California San Diego School of Medicine.

While we have yet to find a viable treatment for the disease, experts believe that we are getting close. To that end, they assert that once a cure isfound, it would still need to be administered as early as possible in the course of the disease, to ensure that damage done to the brainis at a minimum.

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A New Genetic Test Predicts If and When You'll Develop Alzheimer's - Futurism