Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh, US, have identified a small section of DNA, a 'genetic marker', which may point to a significantly increased risk of the development of Alzheimer's disease. Ten years was spent studying 300 relatives of 189 people who had developed the disease.
It was found that when someone had both this stretch of DNA, found on chromosome 10, and another gene called ApoE4, which is already known to be linked to the disease, the risk of contracting Alzheimer's increased by 16 times. The discovery could lead to a test which would allow people to find out if they were likely to contract the disease at a later date. Dr George Zubenko, who headed the research, believes that the results may provide a new target for treatment and prevention of the disease.
The discovery has prompted renewed calls for the government to act on recommendations to ban insurers from using the results of genetic tests. Chief Executive of the UK Alzheimer's Society, Dr Harry Cayton, called for legislation, saying 'we are now deeply concerned that people's fears about potential discrimination may deter them from taking genetic tests which could lead to early diagnosis of disease and treatment'.
In May, the Human Genetics Commission (HGC), which had been asked by the government to look into the social and ethical impact of the use of genetic test results by insurance companies, recommended a three year moratorium while the issues are fully considered. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) agreed to a two year voluntary moratorium.
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