By examining the nerve cells in the brain produced from iPS cells of patients with Alzheimer's disease in detail, a group such as Kyoto University announced that they have discovered the characteristics of genes that are prone to Alzheimer's disease.
The research was conducted by a group such as Professor Haruhisa Inoue of the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University.
Alzheimer's disease, which causes dementia, is said to be caused by the accumulation of abnormal proteins in the brain, but genetic factors, lifestyle-related habits, and aging have been pointed out as to why abnormal proteins begin to accumulate. In many cases, it is not known in detail.
The group created nerve cells in the brain from 102 iPS cells diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and analyzed in detail the abnormal protein status and gene function.
As a result, 496 combinations of slight changes in genes related to abnormal proteins were found.
We also identified eight genes involved in the regulation of abnormal protein levels.
Although it seems that various other factors are involved in the onset of Alzheimer's disease in the group, it is said that detailed examination of the characteristics of these genes will lead to prediction of the onset and development of new treatment methods in the future.
Professor Inoue said, "By knowing the gene that seems to be the cause, the possibility of diagnosis and treatment before the onset should increase in the future."