Alzheimer's Disease And COVID-19 Share Genetic Risk Factor, Says UK Study
NDTV
Discovering a gene that impacts the risk of both Alzheimer's disease and severe COVID-19 could pave the way for new drug development targets for both diseases.
Scientists have identified a gene that impacts the risk of both Alzheimer's disease and severe COVID-19, a finding that could pave the way for new targets for drug development for both the diseases.
The researchers estimate that one genetic variant of the OAS1 gene increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease by about three to six per cent in the population as a whole, while related variants on the same gene increase the likelihood of severe COVID-19 outcomes.
The findings, published in the journal Brain, could open the door for new targets for drug development or tracking disease progression in either disease.
The findings also have potential benefits for other related infectious conditions and dementias, according to the researchers.
