Animal research, Health

09 - 12 - 2015

Alzheimer : BRCA1 has an effect on the brain

The protein BRCA1 which is associated with breast cancer, also plays a role in the brain: it is involved in DNA repair. In mice, an underproduction of BRCA1 leads to the accumulation of damaged DNA, which promotes the destruction of neurons and causes memory loss. Researchers have confirmed this observation by studying the brains of deceased patients affected by Alzheimer’s disease.