Genetics of Alzheimer’s

I’ve done some research in prior classes on the genetics of Alzheimer’s disease so I thought I would share it with everybody.  The “Alzheimer’s Disease and Inflammation: A Review of Cellular and Therapeutic Mechanisms” article briefly mentions the apolipoproteinE (ε4 variant) gene. Although this is the leading risk factor (gene-wise) for Alzheimer’s disease there are other genes associated with AD not included in the article. Other genes include CLU, PICALM, MS4A, CR1, CD33, CD2AP, BIN1, and ABCA7 genes. Check out my ppt on the relevant genes associated with AD in detail!

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/62541740/Genetics%20of%20Alzheimer%27s.pptx

I got this data by using gene search engine websites (description about each listed below). These websites are useful for not only AD but for finding your risk factor for other diseases/disorders such as arthritis, depression, alcoholism, etc!

1. 23andMe: https://www.23andme.com
-Private (for profit) testing company for DNA samples sent in by individuals.
-This site can be used to look up genetic information of various anonymous individuals or a DNA sample.
-It can be used to look up the results at positions along the genome that have been associated with specific diseases and traits to learn the risk of that individual for those diseases and learn the results of traits.

2. Promethease: http://www.snpedia.com/index.php/Promethease

-A site where users can upload their raw data file (usually from 23andme) for further analysis on topics of medical interest. Provides analysis of more genes than 23andme.

-Promethease gives detailed information about SNPs that are related to the development of an array of traits and diseases.

3. Snpedia: http://www.snpedia.com/index.php/SNPedia

-This site is used to investigate human genetics. It includes information about the effects of variations in DNA

-It can be used to get detailed information from specific SNPs mentioned in Promethease (or elsewhere) that includes information about allele frequency in selected populations, chromosome location

4. Spittoon: http://spittoon.23andme.com/
-Spittoon is a blog written by the people of 23andMe. They summarize new literature findings relevant to genes.