Genetic Inheritance Risk for Alzheimer's Disease Linked to Mother's History, New Study Finds

Maternal inheritance of Alzheimer's disease is linked to an increased risk of developing the disease, according to a recent study. Researchers analyzed 4,400 cognitively unimpaired adults with amyloid imaging and found that those with a history of the disease on both sides of their family were more likely to develop Alzheimer's. The study suggests that genetics play a role in a person's odds for Alzheimer's, with differences in risk based on which parent had the illness. Individuals with an Alzheimer's-affected mother may be at a higher risk, as indicated by higher levels of amyloid protein plaques in the brain. The findings highlight the importance of identifying asymptomatic individuals for ongoing prevention trials. The study, published in JAMA Neurology, also noted that having a father with late-onset Alzheimer's did not seem to be related to amyloid levels in the brain. However, early-onset symptoms in fathers were associated with elevated amyloid levels in their offspring. The research suggests that faults in the X chromosome passed down by the mother may contribute to the increased risk. Alzheimer's disease, affecting millions of Americans, is considered a largely inherited disease, with a significant percentage of patients having a family history. Those with a parent or relative with the disease are at a higher risk of developing it themselves. The study extracted data from the A4 study and found associations between brain scans and family history of the disease. Early symptoms of Alzheimer's include memory problems and difficulty with daily tasks, progressing to more severe cognitive decline in later stages.