Genes linked to Alzheimer's risk, resilience identified
An international team of researchers led by scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has identified a pair of genes that influence risk for both late-onset and early-onset Alzheimer's disease.
An international team of researchers led by scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has identified a pair of genes that influence risk for both late-onset and early-onset Alzheimer's disease.
In the study, the researchers measured soluble TREM2 levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of 813 older adults, most of whom were aged 55 to 90. Of those subjects, 172 had Alzheimer's disease, 169 were cognitively normal, and another 183 had early mild cognitive impairment, Xinhua reports.
TREM2 is a protein that is believed to help microglia cells clear excessive amounts of the Alzheimer's proteins amyloid and tau from the brain.
The researchers also analyzed the participants' DNA, conducting genomewide association studies to look for regions of the genome that may influence TREM2 levels in the cerebrospinal fluid.
Common variants in the MS4A4A gene had been associated with risk for Alzheimer's, and the study also connects those genes.
We observed TREM2 risk variants more often in people who had Alzheimer's or were mildly cognitively impaired, compared with those who were cognitively normal," said co-senior investigator Celeste Karch, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Washington University in St. Louis. "It turns out that about 30 percent of the population in the study had variations in the MS4A4A gene that appear to affect their risk for developing Alzheimer's disease. Some variants protected people from Alzheimer's or made them more resilient while others increased their risk."
Digging further, the researchers found that variants in the MS4A4A gene cluster linked to an increase in risk for developing Alzheimer's disease are associated with lower levels of soluble TREM2 protein. The other variant, associated with higher levels of TREM2 in the cerebrospinal fluid, seemed to protect against Alzheimer's.
They validated the results in DNA from another 580 older adults. Once again, they found that higher soluble TREM2 levels in the cerebrospinal fluid seemed protective, while lower levels increased risk. And those protein levels, whether high or low, were linked to variants in the MS4A4A gene.
For the past several years, we've been looking at TREM2 and increasing our focus on the involvement of the brain's immune cells in Alzheimer's disease," said Bruno A. Benitez, an assistant professor of psychiatry. "These findings give us a new therapeutic strategy to pursue, one focusing not only on neurons but on how the microglia may be involved in helping to clear damaging proteins, such as beta amyloid and tau, that are linked to Alzheimer's disease."
Those gene variants also may play a role in other diseases of the central nervous system, according to Laura Piccio, an associate professor of neurology and another co-senior author.
By combining large genetic and spinal fluid analyses with laboratory work, we have provided strong evidence of a biological link between TREM2 and proteins in the MS4A gene cluster, both of which previously had been associated with Alzheimer's disease," Piccio said. "We are beginning to elucidate a molecular pathway in microglia that could be critical not only in Alzheimer's disease but also in other neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases in the central nervous system."
The results could provide researchers with new targets and a strategy for delaying the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms.
The findings were published online in the journal Science Translational Medicine on Wednesday.
Source: Kazinform News Agency
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
relevant news
Kazakhstan Took Part in the 2nd Ministerial Meeting on Strategic Dialogue "Central Asia - Gulf Cooperation Council"
Images | Kazakh MFA
The 2nd Ministerial Meeting on Strategic Dialogue "Central Asia - Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)" took place in Tashkent, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.
Kazakhstan delegation was headed by Alibek Bakayev, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
During the event, the countries of Central Asia and GCC discussed the state and prospects of interregional cooperation, as well as current issues of the international agenda.
Kazakh diplomat, in his statement noted the huge potential of this dialogue platform and made specific proposals for increasing cooperation in the trade, economic, cultural, humanitarian, scientific and technological fields.
In this context, Alibek Bakayev emphasized the importance of strengthening trade relations between the two regions and invited the Gulf States to take an active part in the implementation of joint investment projects in Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries.
In addition, the head of the Kazakh delegation voiced Kazakh initiatives such as expansion of the activities of the Islamic Organization for Food Security and use of the potential of the International Technopark of IT startups "Astana Hub" and organizing of the 5th World Nomad Games in Kazakhstan in September this year.
Concluding the meeting parties adopted Joint Statement, which aimed at strengthening comprehensive cooperation in key areas between the two regions.
It is worth mentioning that the "Central Asia - GCC" dialogue platform was launched in 2022. The First Ministerial Meeting took place in September 2022 in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, while the First Summit of this platform was held in July 2023 in Jeddah, with participation of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
Strengthening Cooperation between Kazakhstan and South Africa Discussed at MFA
Images | Kazakh MFA
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Alibek Bakayev met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of South Africa to the Republic of Kazakhstan Kiitumetzi Siipilo Tandeka Matthews, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.
During the meeting, the parties discussed the current state and prospects for the development of bilateral cooperation in the political, trade, economic, investment, cultural and humanitarian spheres.
Alibek Bakaev underscored the significance of advancing Kazakh-South African relations amidst the increasing role of the African continent on the global affairs.
South African Ambassador Matthews expressed confidence in the continued enhancement of mutually beneficial collaboration between Astana and Pretoria.
Both parties delineated plans to broaden comprehensive cooperation and reviewed the schedule of forthcoming visits and events at the high and highest levels.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States Interested in Cooperation with Kazakhstan
Images | Kazakh MFA
Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Belgium, Margulan Baimukhan, met with the Secretary-General of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti, press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.
During the meeting, the diplomats discussed the prospects of expanding co-operation between Kazakhstan and the OACPS.
The Secretary General spoke about the experience of cooperation between the countries of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Union.
At the same time, they discussed opportunities for co-operation between OACPS member countries and Kazakhstan in trade, exports of Kazakh agricultural products, higher education, culture and sports.
The parties also discussed priorities on the Kazakh-European track, as well as cooperation of Central Asian countries with the institutions of the European Union.
In turn, the Secretary General of the OACPS noted the active role of Kazakhstan in the international arena, regional context, security issues and confirmed the readiness to further deepen cooperation.
Separately, the Secretary General expressed words of support and sympathy in connection with floods in the regions of Kazakhstan.
Kazakh diplomat invited Georges Rebelo to participate in the upcoming Astana International Forum, scheduled for 13-14 June 2024.
The Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States was established in 1975, with headquarters in Brussels, with one of its main objectives being to coordinate economic relations between OACPS countries and the EU. Comprised of 79 Member States from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.