Genes find ‘raises hopes of a cure’

SCIENTISTS have discovered two genes which increase the risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease – the leading cause of dementia – raising hopes of a cure.

Dr Doug Brown, of the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “It is an exciting advance that could help deepen our understanding of what happens in the brains of people with the disease.”

Researchers at Cardiff University identified the genes after comparing the DNA of thousands of sufferers.

Dr Brown said the £250million project will study brain cells called microglia and hopes to “accelerate our progress towards finding a cure”.