• Question: Is alzimers genetic?

    Asked by michaelaxxx to Amy, Karen, Sarah, Vijay, Will on 19 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Karen Reed

      Karen Reed answered on 19 Jun 2012:

      Hiya michael – it can be – if someone in a family has alzhimers other closely related are more likely to develop it, but it need not be. I’m not sure we really now WHY people get alzhimers – if it turns out to be due to damage to one or more genes, then yes it would be classed as genetic even if its not an inherited genetic disease. But in short I dont think we know yet for sure

    • Photo: Sarah Martin

      Sarah Martin answered on 20 Jun 2012:

      Hi michaelaxxx,

      in certain cases yes – at the moment it looks like there are several things that can set off the unfolding of proteins in the brain that then stick together and cause the plaques that create all the problems we know as Alzheimer’s disease. Some of these factors are genetic, and you can inherit an “increased risk”, but others still seem to be pure chance. So if you have lots of cases in your family, then you may also get it, but even if you have none you may still get it too!

      Hope this helps!

      🙂 Sarah

    • Photo: Amy Birch

      Amy Birch answered on 20 Jun 2012:

      Hi michaelaxx,
      Only about 5% of people who get Alzheimer’s will have the type that is genetic and passed on from their parents, so most of it is just random!
      There are a lot of risk factors though, such as having high blood pressure or being overweight and some of these can be genetic. Karen is right, we don’t really know why some people get Alzheimer’s and some people don’t most of the time – but I’m working on it right now! 🙂

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