Every 66 seconds, someone in the United States is starting to develop the Alzheimer's disease. The risks are increasing annually but with a new gene test, the age of having this neurodegenerative disease can be determined.
In an article in The Guardian, this new gene test involves a technique where mutations in 26 genes shall be checked. These genes were actually found in several dementia patients which researchers believe to help out in calculating an individual's possible age of getting the Alzheimer's disease.
Existing gene tests for Alzheimer's heavily relied on the Apolipoprotein E or the APOE gene, according to The Telegraph. Using this gene usually, estimates patients to get the disease around 84 years of age. But with the recent innovation in this field, APOE isn't the only indicator that scientists will look through but also their actual genetic code or also known as the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs).
James Pickett, the head of research at the Alzheimer's Society, shared that the key to solving Alzheimer's is knowing how to prevent dementia from appearing. In order to achieve this, it is a must that accurate and precise methods shall be made and used.
Although this new gene test can provide light to people who wants to know if when will Alzheimer's visit them, Pickett clarified that this tool will undergo several trials beforehand in order to be more accurate to be used in clinics or hospitals.
Rosa Sancho of the Alzheimer's Research UK also follows the line of thought of Pickett. She also sees the potential of this gene test but she wanted to emphasize that it's not all about the genes. An individual's diet, physical activities, and lifestyle can also influence the risks of acquiring and developing the Alzheimer's disease.
