Researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the Central South University (CSU) in China have for the first time identified a gene that increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
In the study, published recently in the journal JCI Insight, the researchers found two mutations in the gene endothelin-converting enzyme 2 (ECE2) which impaired its ability to break down amyloid beta protein. These mutations were present significantly more often in people with Alzheimer’s than in controls—suggesting that the genetic variants in ECE2 could be causing, or at least contributing to, Alzheimer’s symptoms.
“Since amyloid beta protein is unique to Alzheimer’s disease,…
