Scientists have identified a new gene variant that seems to
strongly raise the risk for Alzheimer's disease, giving a fresh
target for research into treatments for the mind-robbing
disorder. The problem gene is not common less than 1 percent of
people are thought to have it but it roughly triples the chances
of developing Alzheimer's compared to people with the normal
version of the gene. It also seems to harm memory and thinking
in older people without dementia. The main reason scientists are
excited by the discovery is what this gene does, and how that
might reveal what causes Alzheimer's and ways to prevent it. The
gene helps the immune system control inflammation in the brain
and clear junk such as the sticky deposits that are the hallmark
of the disease. Mutations in the gene may impair these tasks, so
treatments to restore the gene's function and quell inflammation
may help. "It points us to potential therapeutics in a more
precise way than we've seen in the past," said William Thies,
chief medical and