Researchers are continuing to uncover various genes that may
play a role in the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. The findings
offer new clues about who will get Alzheimer’s in old age, and
why, and may offer new approaches to treating or preventing the
mind-ravaging illness. Scientists at the University of Miami
Miller School of Medicine found that a gene on chromosome 6,
called MTHFD1L, appeared to nearly double a person’s risk of
developing late-onset Alzheimer’s, the most common form of
dementia. The findings were published in the journal PLoS
Genetics. "We are hopeful our identification of MTHFD1L as a
risk gene for Alzheimer's disease will help us to better
understand how this disease develops and potentially serve as a
marker for people who may be at increased risk," said Adam Naj,
Ph.D., a co-author of the study. "Identifying this gene is
important because the gene is known to be involved in
influencing the body's levels of homocysteine, and high levels
of homocysteine are a strong risk factor for late-on