Research into genetic susceptibility to Alzheimers disease, to be published as D10S1423 identifies a susceptibility locus for Alzheimers disease in a prospective, longitudinal, double-blind study of asymptomatic individuals (GS Zubenko, HB Hughes III, and JS Stiffler, Molecular Psychiatry, EMBARGOED UNTIL JUNE 18 at 17:00 ET US), is addressed by religious scholars concerned about possible public misunderstanding.
This release contains quotes from carefully selected, well-informed religious leaders. All quotes are free to use by journalists in any news medium. Contact information is provided and follow-up interviews are encouraged.
Stephen G. Post, Ph.D., Professor and Associate Director for Educational Programs, Center for Biomedical Ethics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University. 216-368-6205. sgp2@po.cwru.edu. A brief biography of Dr. Post is provided at the end of the release.
It is important in an area as vague as Alzheimer disease susceptibility genetics that the media not exaggerate the clinical value of new findings. The finding of a locus on chromosome 10 is not new, although this particular study of susceptibility is. Nevertheless, it provides no firm scientific foundation for clinical practice, does not identify the particular culprit gene at this locus, and will require careful further study across various ethnic groups as well as with Caucasians - the only group studied thus far. We are a long, long way from being able to present clearer knowledge of risk based on this chromosome 10 cite.
The presence of the apolipoprotein (APOE) epsilon 4 allele on chromosome 19 was identified nearly a decade ago as a susceptibility marker for Alzheimer disease. However, it was quickly asserted by no less than five national expert panels that clinical genetic testing for the APOE susceptibility allele was unacceptable because: