After looking at a thousand human brains over nearly a decade, Montreal researchers have found a genetic variation that delays the onset of Alzheimers disease by as many as five years.

Researchers are particularly excited because the gene in question regulates cholesterol, already the focus of heavy research and a target for drug development. This latest finding provides genetic support for the idea that Alzheimers can be prevented by inhibiting the cholesterol-regulating gene.

Its a very good study, said Weihong Song, Canada Research Chair in Alzheimers disease. The research provides new insight into the molecular mechanism leading to Alzheimers disease.

The research was performed by Judes Poirier and his team at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute. They found that a variant of a cholesterol-regulating gene, which makes the enzyme HMG CoA reductase, delays the onset of Alzheimers.

If you have [the variant], the disease will start roughly four to five years later, said Dr. Poirier, lead author of the study published Tuesday in Molecular Psychiatry. About a quarter of the population carries the variation, but a drug could potentially be developed to mimic the effect of the variation in non-carriers.

Scientists already know a lot about HMG CoA reductase this enzyme, responsible for deciding whether or not the body makes cholesterol, is inhibited by a group of drugs called statins, better known for their role in fighting heart disease. Most people think of heart disease when they hear the word cholesterol, but it plays a huge role in the brain as well.

The brain is the organ with the highest concentration of cholesterol in the entire body, Dr. Poirier said.

Even though the brain is only 2 per cent of our total body mass, it contains 25 per cent of all our cholesterol. Thats because the brain is full of neurons that send information to each other and all these connections are insulated by cholesterol.

The Alzheimers community has long known about a link between cholesterol and the disease. Some research has found that high cholesterol levels may raise the risk of Alzheimers. Previous correlational studies have found that users of old varieties of statins had less Alzheimers disease than non-users.

The next step is to develop a brain-specific statin and run a trial to confirm whether or not it consistently delays the onset of Alzheimers. But it may be difficult to find funding for a multimillion-dollar drug trial.

Link:
Research finds gene that delays onset of Alzheimers

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