Risk Factor #5: Genetics and Alzheimer's

If a genetic mutation predisposes you to Alzheimer's, then we would see a much stronger familial link for this disease - which we don't.  

What we do see is pretty shocking.  Of the multiple large scale studies we reviewed, 77% of Late Onset AD cases (referred to as LOAD) have absolutely NO family history of AD!  Which makes the slight (16%) of AD cases whose mother also died of the disease a bit underwhelming

HERE IS THE DATA THAT WILL LEAVE YOU SLEEPING BETTER AT NIGHT:

A review of 3,342 confirmed AD cases shows:  

*No Family History represented 77% of the cases 

*Having a mother with AD represented 16% of the cases 

*Having a father with AD represented 6% of the cases  

Maternal transmission of Alzheimer's disease: Prodromal metabolic phenotype and the search for genes  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3033750/

Alzheimer's Disease can be classified in one of two ways:

• Early Onset (EOAD) - which strikes before the age of 65 and is estimated to affect 1% of all Alzheimer's diagnosis. It has been determined to be caused by the presence of 3 rare genes: 

Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) which is located on chromosome 21

Presenilin 1 (PSEN1) which is located on chromosome 14

Presenilin 2 (PSEN2) which is located on chromosome 1

• Late Onset (LOAD) - which strikes after the age of 65 and is most associated with the risk gene called APOE-4 for reasons not fully understood by science to date.

The significantly more common form of Alzheimer's - LOAD - is not so clear in its origin.  Over time it has come clear that three main lines of reasoning are emerging - which in turn become hypothesis until they are proven or disproven.  

The three main Alzheimer's Disease Hypotheses being studied around the world are: 

1. APOE-4 Gene Variant Theory: aka the "mutating gene hypothesis"
2. Amyloid Beta Cascade Theory: aka the "protein-gone-rouge hypothesis" 
3. Opportunistic  Pathogen Theory: aka the "microbial hypothesis"  - which the Lab that The Curing Alzheimer's Disease Foundation is sponsoring is working to fully elucidate - one way or another. 

The first two theories hinge on the idea that the human body is the problem and environmental factors are secondary factors. 

The last theory hinges on the idea that the human environment is the problem and issues with the human body are secondary factors.

We will be publishing a blogpost that goes into greater depth on all three current lines of reasoning that will be published on our blog.

So check back soon.  Or better yet, subscribe to our blog so we can notify you when a new article has been published.