Breakthrough in Dementia Research: Hope for a Cure?

Dementia is generally considered incurable. For years, numerous studies have been conducted in search of a remedy. Recently, research from Spain offers renewed hope.

Dementia arises from various diseases and injuries affecting brain function. Alzheimer's disease, which appears in about 60% of cases, is one of the most common forms.

More than 55 million people worldwide suffer from dementia, a number expected to rise to 78 million by 2030, according to the World Health Organization.

Findings from the recent international research team in Spain showed that the 238 genes associated with Alzheimer's play a significant role in regulating calcium entry into cells:

The gene proteins, known as surf4, help reduce calcium entry into cells and have been shown to exacerbate the toxicity of beta-amyloid protein, linked to Alzheimer's disease.

"The 'Surf4' gene is involved in almost all cell functions," explained research coordinator Francisco Muñoz from Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona. "Hence, when the Surf4 protein is overexpressed, reducing calcium entry and disrupting calcium-dependent cellular processes, neurons are unable to function."

The research team hopes that profiling this gene will advance further investigations, aiding in discovering more treatment pathways for Alzheimer's disease.

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