Scientists link vascular gene to Alzheimer's disease

'This study seems to have identified a new target for intervention through a line of investigation not reported before.

This is good news because there is currently no treatment that prevents or halts the progress of Alzheimer's disease. Although, there are a number of new interventions in early trials, most of these are based on the amyloid cascade, which we have understood reasonably well for some years now.

Evidence that links vascular disease and Alzheimer's disease on the molecular level is welcome, because we have known for some time now that there is an overlap between risk factors for vascular disease and Alzheimer's disease.

There is still a considerable jump from identifying a target for intervention and developing a drug that works, but it is a first step in a new direction towards stopping Alzheimer's disease in its tracks.'

Susanne Sorensen
Head of research