Better Memory Performance linked to Genetic Variant

     The largest study to date of human memory using genomic data was done by the research team of IU School of Medicine, led by post-doctoral medical student Vijay K. Ramanan. This test included over 14,000 older adults. An analysis of genomic data using memory performance test was used to identify a specific location in the genome that was associated with better memory performance. According to an International research team, the results obtained can lead to finding new treatments for memory impairments (such as Alzheimer Disease).

                                        From: http://newsoffice.mit.edu/2013/discovering-hippocampal-connections

      This test involved chromosomal manipulation. There were higher performance tests of episodic memory that was associated with the DNA on chromosome 2; specifically the gene involved a G instead of the more common A nucleotide (in the gene called FASTKD2). The single genetic variant nucleotide polymorphism of SNP was found to also have a denser gray matter in the brain and a slightly larger hippocampus. These foundings were brought by Resonance Imaging Scans.

      This is a fantastic stepping stone for research on genetic variants. More research obviously needs to be done to determine whether the drug targeting the FASTKD2 gene can be used to protect against memory loss. But if these findings are verified, Alzheimer Disease can finally have a treatment associated with it.  

Article from: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/285378.php
Related article: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19863254