Discovered genes in common disease and heart attack
In a study by the University of Bologna and a company of New Mexico, it was discovered the genetic profile shared by the two diseases: let’s create a test to detect.
Alzheimer’s and heart attack have the same genetic basis and through which we can develop a new test which will indicate whether or not the risk of developing the two diseases. The study, conducted by the University of Bologna in collaboration with a private company of New Mexico (USA), found that 30% of heart attack patients and in 40% of patients with Alzheimer’s disease is an overlap of risk congenital.
The immunologist at the University of Bologna, Federico Licastro, said: “Before this study were known only individual genes associated with two diseases, so that no individual to develop a test on the risk now, instead, we were able to identify a partially shared genetic profile, which involves different genes. It is this discovery that enables us to test and evaluate a profile, in part specific for different diseases.
People at high risk have a genetic profile consists of genes involved in the synthesis and transport of cholesterol and inflammation control: processes that appear to be at the root of both disorders.
These two diseases are very common: Alzheimer’s, one of the most common forms of dementia, affects individuals within 85 years and more specifically involves one in five women and one in ten men, heart attack, which continues to be a the leading causes of death of the new millennium, affects approximately 12% of the population.
The scholars, in order to conduct the study, divided the population according to risk levels, in six different groups: low risk groups 1, 2 and 3 and high-risk groups 4,5 and 6. The researchers focused their efforts in groups 4 and 6 because they are the ones that were found to be high risk for a disease to another: for heart attack, in group 4 before 40 years and in Group 6 of the 40 and 54 years for Alzheimer’s disease in group 4, before the age of 65 and 6 over 65 years. To analyze the DNA of the subjects studied, the researchers used a new statistical technique, Grade of Membership Analysis, which allowed us to study disease even on a small number of cases. With the test result, according to scholars who may be held in Italy with a simple blood test, you can begin a monitoring phase and to define ways of life appropriate for the prevention of these diseases.
