A study recently conducted by researchers from Indiana University found two genetic variants previously linked to Alzheimer’s disease whose associated proteins circulating in the blood were associated with brain atrophy and could be used for Alzheimer’s-related tests in the future. The study is believed to be the first to directly link common variants of the genes — ABCA7 and MA4A6A — to atrophy in cortical and hippocampal regions of the brain. “We also found that the levels of the protein products of these genes, circulating in the peripheral blood, were associated with the cortical and hippocampal atrophy. This finding suggests that those results of gene expression could become useful biomarker blood tests for Alzheimer’s disease,” said the study’s lead author. To read more about this study, click here.
