A major scientific discovery comes from Italy, where a team of researchers led by the Molinette Hospital of the Città della Salute in Turin discovered a new gene linked to Alzheimer's progression. The study, which was published in the journal Alzheimer's Research & Therapy, demonstrated how rare genetic abnormalities can contribute to the beginning of the illness even in old age. Dr. Elisa Rubino directed the investigation, which concentrated on an Italian family with late-onset Alzheimer's disease. The study identified mutations in the Grin2C gene, which encodes a subunit of the NMDA glutamate receptor. Advanced molecular genetics tools allowed researchers to show how these mutations affect neuronal excitability and protein binding to other neuronal proteins, resulting in profound biological alterations.