CRISPR gene editing of brain cells could prevent Alzheimer’s disease

By Michael le page

Artist’s impression of amyloid plaques in a brain with Alzheimer’s disease

nobeastsofierce / Science Photo Library

It may one day be possible to manipulate brain cells to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers have found that altering a key gene in nerve cells reduces the production of a protein associated with the disease, although it has previously only been done in a shell.

Alzheimer’s is the main cause of dementia and the risk increases sharply with age. Around 1 in 4 people over 90 have it.

The cause of Alzheimer’s is not yet fully understood, but the leading hypothesis is …