Topic: Research News
Scientists at Carnegie Mellon University and others found a new way that Alzheimer's disease affects the brain. They used special tools to study how the genome is organized in people with Alzheimer's. This discovery may help us understand and treat the disease better.
Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and the University of Washington have made a significant breakthrough in understanding Alzheimer's disease. They found that the three-dimensional organization of the genome is different in people with Alzheimer's compared to those without it.
The team used a technique called GAGE-seq to study how the genome is organized in brain cells from people with and without Alzheimer's. They also used spatial transcriptomic maps, which show where genes are active in the brain tissue. By combining these datasets, they were able to connect the physical organization of the genome with gene regulation.
The researchers found that changes in chromatin, the material made up of DNA and associated proteins, are a key feature of Alzheimer's disease. Chromatin is like a package that holds the genome inside cells, and changes in its structure can affect how genes are turned on or off. This new understanding of Alzheimer's may help scientists identify new targets for treatment.
The study was led by Jian Ma, the Ray and Stephanie Lane Professor of Computational Biology at Carnegie Mellon University. He said,
Implications
Scientists at Carnegie Mellon University and others found a new way that Alzheimer's disease affects the brain. They used special tools to study how the genome is organized in people with Alzheimer's. This discovery may help us understand and treat the disease better.
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