Gene linked to disease found to play a critical role in normal memory development
Wednesday, August 13, 2014 - 05:00
in Health & Medicine
It has been more than 20 years since scientists discovered that mutations in the gene huntingtin cause the devastating progressive neurological condition Huntington’s disease, which involves involuntary movements, emotional disturbance and cognitive impairment. Surprisingly little, however, has been known about the gene’s role in normal brain activity. Now, a study shows it plays a critical role in long-term memory.