(Provided by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency)
A new genetic factor involved in the onset of dementia among Koreans has been identified.
On the 6th, the Korea National Institute of Health announced that through the 'Brain Disease Research Infrastructure Development Project,' new genetic factors such as SORL1, APCDD1, and DRC7, which are involved in the onset of Alzheimer's disease, have been identified by analyzing the genetic information and brain imaging data of domestic dementia patients.
The research team analyzed the genome of dementia patients along with amyloid pathological biomarkers (PET) brain imaging data, and found that the SORL1 gene is directly linked to the accumulation of beta-amyloid protein, known as a key cause of Alzheimer's disease, and cognitive decline. The SORL1 gene plays a role in preventing beta-amyloid from accumulating in the brain, and the study confirmed that if its function weakens, the protein accumulates, increasing the risk of dementia. The research team also proposed a 'cumulative effect model,' suggesting that when multiple genetic variants are present simultaneously, the risk of onset accumulates, leading to a rapid increase in the incidence of Alzheimer's.
Professor Seo Sang-won of the Department of Neurology at Samsung Medical Center, a member of the research team, stated, "It is significant that we directly confirmed the biological mechanism of Alzheimer's disease by combining PET and genomic information, moving away from existing research centered on clinical diagnosis," adding, "This study will serve as a foundation for precise risk prediction and personalized treatment."
The Korea National Institute of Health analyzed the genetic information and brain imaging data of Korean dementia patients based on a cohort of Korean elderly dementia patients through the 'Brain Disease Research Infrastructure Development Project.' A cohort is a group of individuals born at a specific time or who have experienced the same event. The research results were also published in the international journal Nature Communications.
Bang Sung-eun
AI-translated with ChatGPT. Provided as is; original Korean text prevails.
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