Scientists from the University of Nottingham claim to have unearthed a second rare genetic mutation that could significantly increase the likelihood of an individual developing Alzheimer's disease when they are older.
With more than 820,000 people in the UK living with dementia - of which Alzheimer's is the main cause - and the figure on the rise as people grow older, such research will be welcomed by medical professionals and scientists alike who continue to strive to find a cure for the degenerative condition.
In this study published in the journal Nature, the genetic variation has been identified by the institution's Translational Cell Sciences Human Genetics research group in the Phospholipase D3 (PLD3) gene.
Highlighting the importance of the discovery, Nottingham team leader and Professor of Human Genomics and Molecular Genetics Kevin Morgan commented: "Our research is forming the basis of potential diagnostics later on and more importantly it shows pathways that can be diagnostic targets, which could lead to therapeutic interventions in the future."
The international team - which also comprised partners from Washington University in the US and University College London - studied around 2,000 people with Alzheimer's in order to reach their conclusion.
View the abstract here.