Chinese researchers identify new neurological disease gene

BEIJING -- Chinese researchers have identified a gene that may cause neurological disorders.

Primary familial brain calcification (PFBC) is a neurological disease, with high incidence among the elderly. Symptoms include difficulty in walking and speaking.

Researchers from the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, the Institute of Neuroscience and State Key Neuroscience Laboratory, the latter two with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have identified a new causal gene, MYORG, which encodes a protein composed of 714 amino acids.

After experiments on mice, the gene was found to be recessive, while other known PFBC genes are dominant.

In 2012, researchers from Huazhong University of Science and Technology discovered the first PFBC causal gene. However, more than 50 percent of the genetic factors are still unclear.

The new finding was published in the journal Neuron.