Michael Silverman, an associate professor of biology at SFU, has made an important contribution to the collective knowledge about Alzheimer’s disease through his research on cellular neuroscience.
Today, the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease is undeniable. The degenerative disease targets the brain, resulting in loss of memory, behavioural changes and disintegration of language abilities. Alzheimer’s does not discriminate, and can seemingly target anyone as they age.
However, Silverman has come across a rare gene variation which may prove helpful in understanding the disease.
Two years ago, Silverman went to Japan for a fellowship, bringing his strengths in the field of cell biology to work alongside geneticists and physicists. During his time there, researchers did genetic marker studies on mice, without a specific goal in mind, but hoping to find a genetic pattern between the subjects.
After raising mice with indistinguishable genetic backgrounds in identical settings, scientists found that some of the mice had a specific gene that led to the slowing down of amyloid precursor protein (APP) transportation in the cells, resulting in greater deterioration. In simple terms, this is a gene anomaly that leads to Alzheimer’s.
After the initial studies, they tested for the same specific gene in people with the disease, and they too, had this genetic anomaly.
Silverman explained, “[This] doesn’t say it’s causative, necessarily — it’s correlative. If you have this gene variation, there’s a good chance you’re going to have this disease.”
Researchers have struggled with Alzheimer’s because it does not have a strong genetic component, at least not one researchers have discovered. While this discovery is promising, it does not necessarily mean researchers will find a cure for the disease anytime soon.
Alzheimer’s disease is still an incredibly complex enigma, but as Silverman said, “finding more pieces to the puzzle [is] essential.” Any information that can help doctors and researchers understand more about the disease is valuable and may lead to treatment or earlier detection for those who are at risk of developing Alzheimer’s, he concluded.
