PET PET
  • My Account
  • Subscribe
Become a Friend Donate
  • About Us
    • People
    • Press Office
    • Our History
  • Get Involved
    • Become a Friend of PET
    • Volunteer
    • Campaigns
    • Writing Scheme
    • Partnership and Sponsorship
    • Advertise with Us
  • Donate
    • Become a Friend of PET
  • BioNews
    • News
    • Comment
    • Reviews
    • Elsewhere
    • Topics
    • Glossary
    • Newsletters
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Previous Events
  • Engagement
    • Policy and Projects
      • Resources
    • Education
  • Jobs & Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
    • People
    • Press Office
    • Our History
  • Get Involved
    • Become a Friend of PET
    • Volunteer
    • Campaigns
    • Writing Scheme
    • Partnership and Sponsorship
    • Advertise with Us
  • Donate
    • Become a Friend of PET
  • BioNews
    • News
    • Comment
    • Reviews
    • Elsewhere
    • Topics
    • Glossary
    • Newsletters
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Previous Events
  • Engagement
    • Policy and Projects
      • Resources
    • Education
  • Jobs & Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • My Account
  • Subscribe
  • Privacy Statement
  • Advertising Policy
  • Thanks and Acknowledgements
PETBioNewsNewsImmune-related mutations might maintain memory

BioNews

Immune-related mutations might maintain memory

Published 1 December 2014 posted in News and appears in BioNews 782

Author

Chris Hardy

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
CC BY 4.0
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.

Common variants of immune-related genes have been linked with memory performance...

Common variants of immune-related genes have been linked
with memory performance.

In what researchers claim as the largest study of its kind, the Cohorts for Heart and Aging
Research in Genomic Epidemiology (CHARGE) consortium
 aimed to
identify genes that might protect against memory loss in old age.

Nearly 30,000 people over 45, who did not have dementia, were tested on
their ability to remember words and paragraphs. Their performance on these
tests was logged and researchers compared the entire genetic codes of subjects
who had faired poorly on the tests with those who had done well.

They found that people who performed badly were more likely
to carry certain genetic variants near to the Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene.
ApoE has already been linked with Alzheimer's disease and, interestingly, the association
was stronger in people above the age of 65.

In a separate sub-study using 725 post-mortem brain samples, the
researchers found that people carrying these variants were more likely to have very
early signs of the brain damage associated with Alzheimer's.

On a more positive note, two regions of the genome already known to contain genes involved
in immune response were associated with a greater ability to recall word lists.
The researchers say this finding 'provides new support for an important role of
immune system dysfunction in age-related memory decline'.

Finally, the scientists examined post-mortem samples taken from the
hippocampus - a brain area associated with memory, which is affected early on
in Alzheimer's disease.

According to lead author Dr Stéphanie Debette from Boston University School of
Medicine: 'The genetic variants associated with
memory performance also predicted altered levels of expression of certain genes
in the hippocampus.' The genes in question are involved in the metabolism of
ubiquitin, which plays a vital role in regulating levels of cellular protein.

Professor Ian Deary, based at the University of
Edinburgh, another lead author for the research, said he hoped that finding 'the
small individual genetic variants that contribute to memory [...] will lead us to
the mechanisms that underpin healthy cognitive ageing'.

The report was published in the journal Biological Psychiatry.

Related Articles

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
CC BY 4.0
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.
News
14 October 2021 • 2 minutes read

Alzheimer's risk gene variant protects against age-related memory loss

by Christina Burke

A gene variant previously linked to higher Alzheimer's risk may in fact improve short-term memory, researchers have found...

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
CC BY 4.0
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.
News
22 July 2016 • 2 minutes read

Alzheimer's gene affects brain development in children

by Chris Hardy

A gene variant linked to increased risk of Alzheimer's disease may affect memory and thinking skills in children, a study has found...

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
CC BY 4.0
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.
News
18 April 2016 • 2 minutes read

Blood test detects biological age, risk of dementia

by Chris Hardy

A blood test designed to assess how well somebody is ageing could be used to predict whether or not they are likely to develop certain illnesses, like Alzheimer's disease...

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
CC BY 4.0
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.
News
30 January 2015 • 2 minutes read

'Long life' gene might also protect against mental decline

by Dr Vikki Burchell

A genetic variant may not only help some people live longer, but also changes the way their brain ages, a study suggests....

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
CC BY 4.0
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.
News
15 August 2014 • 2 minutes read

Alzheimer's-linked gene missing in man with healthy brain

by Chris Hardy

A man without a working copy of a gene thought to be necessary for healthy brain function - and linked with Alzheimer's disease - has a 'grossly normal cognitive status'. Targeting this gene in people at-risk for the disease could help to protect them against it...

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
CC BY 4.0
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.
News
29 August 2013 • 2 minutes read

Gene activity decline behind 'senior moments'

by Michelle Downes

Age-related memory loss could be the result of low levels of protein in the brain, according to researchers at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC)...

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
CC BY 4.0
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.
News
21 March 2013 • 2 minutes read

Protection against dementia may run in families

by Dr Sophie Pryor

Families with higher levels of a protein linked to inflammation may be at a reduced risk of dementia....

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
CC BY 4.0
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.
News
9 June 2009 • 1 minute read

Having a parent with dementia could affect memory in midlife

by Alison Cranage

A study shows that people who have a parent with Alzheimer's disease or dementia may be more likely to have poor memory in middle age, if they also carry a gene called ApoEe4. The findings were presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 61st Annual Meeting in...

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

« World's first commercialised gene therapy set to be 'world's most expensive drug'

Data-Label The UK's Leading Supplier Of Medical Labels & Asset Labels

RetiringDentist.co.uk The UK's Leading M&A Company.

Find out how you can advertise here
easyfundraising
amazon

This month in BioNews

  • Popular
  • Recent
13 June 2022 • 2 minutes read

Drop in diversity of blood stem cells leads to old-age health issues

8 August 2022 • 2 minutes read

Placenta and organ formation observed in mouse embryo models

8 August 2022 • 2 minutes read

Complex structures of the human heart bioengineered

8 August 2022 • 1 minute read

Brain tumour gene also linked to childhood cancers

8 August 2022 • 2 minutes read

Lower hormone doses may improve IVF egg quality

8 August 2022 • 2 minutes read

Boosting muscle cell production of gene therapy proteins

Subscribe to BioNews and other PET updates for free.

Subscribe
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • RSS
Wellcome
Website redevelopment supported by Wellcome.

Website by Impact Media Impact Media

  • Privacy Statement
  • Advertising Policy
  • Thanks and Acknowledgements

© 1992 - 2022 Progress Educational Trust. All rights reserved.

Limited company registered in England and Wales no 07405980 • Registered charity no 1139856

Subscribe to BioNews and other PET updates for free.

Subscribe
PET PET

PET is an independent charity that improves choices for people affected by infertility and genetic conditions.

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • RSS
Wellcome
Website redevelopment supported by Wellcome.

Navigation

  • About Us
  • Get Involved
  • Donate
  • BioNews
  • Events
  • Engagement
  • Jobs & Opportunities
  • Contact Us

BioNews

  • News
  • Comment
  • Reviews
  • Elsewhere
  • Topics
  • Glossary
  • Newsletters

Other

  • My Account
  • Subscribe

Website by Impact Media Impact Media

  • Privacy Statement
  • Advertising Policy
  • Thanks and Acknowledgements

© 1992 - 2022 Progress Educational Trust. All rights reserved.

Limited company registered in England and Wales no 07405980 • Registered charity no 1139856