Genes and dementia
Solving a 30-year mystery – how an important Alzheimer’s risk gene affects our brain
Lots of factors affect a person’s risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease, the number one cause of dementia. It’s a complex mix of lifestyle, health and age, but our genetic makeup plays a particularly important role in determining whether we will get Alzheimer’s.
The risk gene riddle
It turns out that risk genes are a really important piece of the puzzle that helps us build our understanding of how a disease progresses.
How large DNA banks help us to make breakthroughs possible
Alzheimer’s Research UK recently awarded a £96,000 grant to Prof Kevin Morgan at the University of Nottingham to maintain and expand his large collection of DNA samples. This is to ensure he can continue his important research into the genetics of Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease: The puzzle we’re so desperate to solve
At the Sanger Institute, where my PhD is based, we are fascinated by all things genetics, which may seem a long way from a person living with Alzheimer’s disease. Yet we know that certain gene mutations (a small error in a gene) can increase your risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease and now we are working to understand how and why that is.
How many people develop Alzheimer’s in their 30s?
This week we’re helping Rita Pepper speak out about how Alzheimer’s has affected her family.
New research: What can our genes tell us about Alzheimer’s?
We know that around 99% of cases of Alzheimer’s are not directly inherited – they’re caused by a complex mix of age, genetic risk factors and lifestyle.
Who is most at risk of dementia?
Dementia is the most feared diagnosis in the over 55s in the UK, affecting around 850,000 people across the country. You often ask us why some people develop the condition and others don’t, and whether it’s possible to predict who will go on to get dementia.
The latest generation of dementia research
As Dementia Awareness Week approaches, BBC Horizon has thrown a spotlight onto dementia research with their latest programme featuring recent advances in the field.