A team from the University of New South Wales identified DNA switches that help control the function of astrocytes—brain cells that support neurons, EurekAlert reports . From over a thousand candidates, the scientists selected 150 switches that controlled genes associated with Alzheimer's disease.
"Moving from thousands of variants to 150 real targets significantly narrows the search area in the noncoding genome for clues about the genetics of dementia," the authors commented. Many studies often find changes not only within genes but also between them, so having clear targets for study can significantly simplify this process.
According to the scientists, it is now crucial to conduct similar studies on other cell types to identify functional switches in the vast expanse of noncoding DNA. Junk DNA represents approximately 98% of the genome. And although it is the noncoding portion of the genome, it performs a variety of functions, including regulating gene activity.
While there's no clear understanding of how to develop a new treatment, scientists now understand the goal and scope of the work. Since specific switches are active only in certain cell types, targeting them could allow for precise control of gene expression in astrocytes without affecting neurons or other brain cells.
New research may lead to the discovery of a truly effective treatment for dementia. Existing treatment strategies aimed at removing neuron-toxic proteins from brain tissue have not yet yielded the desired therapeutic results.
