Genome-wide Alzheimer's study to begin in UK

The largest genome-wide study of the genetic origins of Alzheimer's disease is set to begin, thanks to a £1.3 million grant from the UK's largest charity, the Wellcome Trust. The researchers in the study will look at DNA samples from 6,000 sufferers of late-onset Alzheimer's disease and compare them to samples from 8,000 healthy controls from the UK and the US. The researchers will search the samples for 500,000 SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) - a type of genetic variant - that can be linked to Alzheimer's disease. It is hoped that by doing so the researchers will be able to identify some common genetic variations that increase the risk of the disease.

Professor Julie Williams from the University of Cardiff will lead the study, and will work in collaboration with researchers from the Wellcome Trust's Sanger Institute. 'Alzheimer's is a genetically complicated story involving many genes, so we need large sample sizes to make sure any genetic links that we find are not mere coincidence', explained Professor Williams, adding that 'with access to 14,000 DNA samples, our study is the largest genetic study ever to look at Alzheimer's and will undoubtedly produce some valuable insights into what causes this devastating illness'.

The UK's Alzheimer's Society states that more than half of the world's 18 million dementia sufferers have Alzheimer's disease and that with the world's ageing population, they believe that this number could grow to 34 million by the middle of this century. Over 700,000 in the UK have the disease, but only £11 is invested for every Alzheimer's sufferer, compared with £289 of research for every cancer patient, the society said, while welcoming the new study.

'Alzheimer's disease is a major burden on our society and this burden will only increase as our population ages', said Professor Richard Morris, Head of Neurosciences and Mental Health at the Wellcome Trust. 'It is essential that we develop our understanding of the underlying causes of the disease, and genome-wide association scans offer a powerful tool to do just this', he added.