Researchers at the Global Neurodegeneration Proteomics Consortium (GNPC) have examined proteins in the body that could be used to monitor neurological diseases.
Their work, published in the journal Nature Medicine, was funded in part by billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.
The discovery could bring people "closer than ever to the day when an Alzheimer's diagnosis is no longer a death sentence," he said.
Scientists have known for decades that having two copies of a certain gene encoding a protein, APOE4, increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease tenfold, but they haven't been sure why.
However, researchers have recently discovered its role in inflammation and infection, both of which may contribute to the disease.
They also identified blood markers that can confirm with 99% confidence whether someone possesses a copy of the high-risk APOE4 gene.
Their work also supports the theory that Alzheimer's disease is linked to the buildup of certain proteins in the brain.
“This paves the way for drug discovery that could lead to new treatments,” said Charles Marshall, professor of clinical neurology at Queen Mary University of London.
The most immediately exciting part is that abnormal protein patterns that predict neurodegenerative diseases reveal new biological insights into how these conditions develop.”
Their work will rapidly accelerate research in the field of neurodegeneration, said Simon Lovestone, head of global discovery and translational research at Johnson & Johnson.
“The scale and depth of the dataset, combined with the clinical data, make it a unique resource with the potential to change the way we study, detect and treat neurodegenerative diseases,” said Lovestone.
The work is part of the Global Neurodegeneration Proteomics Consortium, an initiative set to launch in 2023. The research organizations were brought together with support from Johnson & Johnson and Gates Ventures.
Source: https://baolaocai.vn/dau-hieu-canh-bao-co-the-dang-mac-benh-alzheimer-post649089.html
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