Their search is occurring in Wadi Ara, a small rural Arab community in northern Israel. The researchers have observed an unusually high prevalence of Alzheimer's disease in this community. Furthermore, other research has shown that 44 percent of all Arab marriages in Israel are consanguineous, or between people who are closely related. The researchers also are investigating whether environmental factors may play a role in the high rate of Alzheimer's in this population. The research project already has yielded results, which were published in the Sept. 12 issue of the journal Neurology .
Evidence indicates that a recessive gene is involved in the disease.
It is likely that Alzheimer's disease, as a complex disorder, has many genetic and environmental factors contributing to risk. Genetic testing may help people adjust their lifestyle to lower risk. Therefore, the results from this study may have immediate impact on the development of new treatment or prevention strategies. In addition to CWRU and UHC, Tel Aviv University and Boston University are involved with this study. The Primary Care Track is designed to educate medical students in primary care, which includes the fields of pediatrics, internal medicine and family medicine, with an emphasis on the development of future leaders.