Mutations in a region of the gene that codes for VEGF, a protein that stimulates blood vessel growth, are associated with to a heightened risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, Italian researchers report. They suggest that these mutations may interfere with the normally neuroprotective effects of VEGF.The researchers analyzed the promotor region of VEGF, or vascular endothelial growth factor, in 249 patients with Alzheimer’s disease and 347 healthy subjects who served as a comparison groups. The findings are published in the Annals of Neurology.
