Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Researchers Find Genetic Linkage to Memory

Researchers of a study have found that a gene that can cause dementia also can impair memory ability.  In the study of 30,000 people that did not have dementia, each person was put through multiple memory tests and each person's entire genome was sequenced.  The Apolipoprotein E gene was linked to poor memory, especially the older participants.  There were also two other genetic linkages to the immune system that also affect the ability to recall word lists.

This huge study of 30,000 people is unprecedented, so more research is needed to confirm the genetic linkages.


This research will help pave the way for people to take preventative action if they are susceptible to memory loss and/or dementia.   In addition, the inheritability of memory function can be more closely researched.

1 comment:

  1. This article seemed interesting and I would hope we can find a cure to memory loss, but it seems as if more information was needed about the study. Hopefully they can do more research on this gene because I would personally like to learn about it, as I myself do not want to go through memory loss as I get older.

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