Brain biobanks have been instrumental in uncovering the causes and consequences of neurodegenerative diseases. In an interview with The Astana Times, Kazakh clinician-scientist Rauan Kaiyrzhanov spoke about their research impact and shared his medical perspective on the idea of creating a brain biobank in Kazakhstan.
Kaiyrzhanov is a pioneer in Kazakh-British cooperation in neurogenetics. The young doctor began his research in 2015 in the University College London (UCL). Later, he has been collecting deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) samples from patients with rare neurological diseases in the National Center of Neurosurgery in Astana for their further genetic analysis in the British capital.
Since 2017, his team has collected DNA samples from more than 3,000 families with rare early-onset neurological diseases and more than 3,000 samples from patients with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases in the countries of Central Asia and Transcaucasia. The Parkinson’s disease project is sponsored by the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF), the organization that provides grants directly to scientists it deems most likely to discover a cure for Parkinson’s disease.
The global challenge of neurodegenerative diseases
Neurodegenerative diseases affect millions of individuals worldwide, with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases being the most prevalent.
“The likelihood of developing these conditions increases with age and is further amplified by a country’s intensified industrialization. More developed countries face a higher risk. This pattern contrasts with other diseases, which tend to be more prevalent in areas with lower economic prosperity,” said Kaiyrzhanov.
“Many neurodegenerative diseases do not arise from a single gene mutation. Instead, they result from genetic predisposition, which represents an interplay of various genes and the combined effect of genetic factors and environmental influences,” he noted.
As the number of specialists for a specific disease increases in a country, the reported incidence of that disease often appears to rise due to improvements in diagnostic capabilities. In this context, DNA samples play a crucial role in advancing the understanding of neurodegenerative diseases and improving diagnostic and treatment options.