Mayo researchers, collaborators identify ‘instigator’ gene associated with Alzheimer’s disease

Newswise — JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In a new paper published in Nature Communications, Mayo Clinic researchers and collaborators report the protein-coding gene SERPINA5 may worsen tau protein tangles, which are characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease, and advance disease. By combining clinical expertise, brain tissue samples, pathology expertise and artificial intelligence, the team clarified and validated the relevance of the gene to Alzheimer’s disease.

The researchers used tissue samples from 385 brains donated to the Mayo Clinic Brain Bank, which houses more than 9,000 brain tissue specimens for the study of neurodegenerative disorders. The samples were from people who were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and lacked co-existing diseases found in the brain. This ensured a spotlight on Alzheimer’s disease, which enabled the team to focus on targets relevant to the…

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