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.
Getting a genetic test for familial Alzheimer’s disease at 25
When people hear the word Alzheimer’s, many envision an elderly person shut away in the depths of a care home. As a 25-year-old, I was all too aware that young people assume that it’s a natural part of ageing, and nothing for them to worry about yet. But it’s not, it’s a brain disease that strips everything away from the individual – and it doesn’t just affect the elderly.
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.
How many people develop dementia in their 30s?
In this blog, we’ll explore how common these genetic forms are and what role our genes play in non-genetic forms of Alzheimer’s.
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.
