An international team of Alzheimer’s experts have identified a gene variation associated with aggressive progression of Alzheimer’s was identified in patients with high levels of a protein linked to the disease.

Researchers from Washington University in St Louis, Missouri studied DNA variations in 846 patients with elevated levels of a certain form of the tau protein in brain fluid that is associated with the disease.

The findings could help predict the rate at which dementia progresses.

Cruchaga, C., Kauwe, J. S. K. et al. (2010) SNPs Associated with Cerebrospinal Fluid Phospho-Tau Levels Influence Rate of Decline in Alzheimer’s Disease. Public Library of Science Genetics Journal (Volume 6. Issue 9).