Abstract
Genetic Basis Of Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and is the most common cause of dementia in elderly people. There are four different genetic loci associated with inherited susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease. The four genes to be identified in association with inherited susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease are amyloid precursor protein, apolipoprotein E epsilon 4, presenilin 1 and presenilin 2. The mutations or polymorphisms in these genes cause excessive cerebral accumulation of the amyloid beta-protein and subsequent neuronal and glial pathology in brain parts which are important for memory and cognition. Other miscellaneous genes involved in Alzheimer's disease are interleukin-1 alpha, interleukin-6, interleukin-10, tumor necrosis factoralpha, cystatin C, neprilysin, angiotensin converting enzyme, BACE 1, cathepsin D and brainderived neurotrophic factor.
