Hopes have been raised in the fight against Alzheimer’s after Icelandic scientists made an exciting discovery.

Scientists at the deCODE genetics lab in Iceland have recently found a gene, present in around one per cent of Iceland’s population, that protects individuals from serious brain function ailments, including Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers believe that those carrying the gene are 47 per cent more likely than those without it to live to the age of 85 or older, according to a report published in the Nature journal. Scientists also say it is the first DNA sequence ever found that is believed to protect people from the neurodegenerative disorder.