Alzheimer's Gene

Scientists have made a breakthrough discovery that could someday help doctors beat back Alzheimer's disease in the elderly. Researchers from Columbia University and other institutions have identified a gene that appears to play an important role in the development of late-onset Alzheimer's. DNA samples from more than 6,000 volunteers taken over five years show that variations in a gene called SORL1 may be responsible for triggering many cases of the devastating brain disorder. As with many gene discoveries, it holds little practical use in the short run - but scientists are excited that it could lead to treatments or cures down the line.