Okay, so my grandma on my dad's side (my dad's mom) had alzheimer's and just died last year. She started to get the symptoms and what not of the disease when she was about 59 or 60 years old. My dad is now 50 years old and he doesnt have any symptoms but I am so nervous that he might get it, or that even worse, I might get it! Does anybody know how alzheimer's work in terms of heredity, is it even hereditary and if it is hereditary, does anybody know if it is a sex linked gene, autosomal recessive/dominant, etc.?
thanks so much in advance! i tried looking it up online but maybe im just computer illiterate cuz i couldnt find anything...

good question suzy, i don't know much. unfortunatley there is a strong genetic component....my mom, her mom, her grandfather and uncle all died from this wretchedness. i assume i'll get it....it's a depressing thought so i don't go there much. you might want to research whether it is as hereditary for the early onset type which seems to be what your grandma had. i've heard, i think, that you can get tested to see if you're predisposed...but i'm not sure. i'm putting my eggs in the "having faith in science" basket -- hoping that by the time i'm old(er) they'll have a cure. seem to be getting closer and closer.

My dad's doctor told me the best defense is keeping your mind busy. Keep learning, reading and doing. that's about the only thing that we can do to try to stave off this awful disease as long as we can.
My dad has it, his dad had it and dad's brother has it. My mom's mom had it as well as my mom's sister. I think my mom was in the very beginning stages of it when she died at 67. So my chances of getting it look pretty high too.
But I'm too busy with today to worry about tomorrow.
Love, Barb

We were very concerned about the same issue. My husband was 59 when diagnosed, but we had no prior family history of the disease (he comes from a very large family). We were told that there can be a genetic component, but that it isn't clear except for a certain type of early onset disease. My husband is participating in a study, and his DNA has been studied. The results of that study is not available to the patient, however, and we were told that if we wanted to see if my husband's DNA showed links to the genetic markers that have been identified so far that we would need to have our own study done. We discussed this further with the doctors, and they said (1) that new information is being learned all the time. They might discover new genetic markers five years from now, so that any information we got today would probably have only limited value; (2) having this information might affect insurance, the way our kids viewed their future, etc., and could be damaging to them; and (3) if they developed Alzheimers at the same age as their Dad, it was still so far away that it was probable at the rate of research that there would be additional medicines or a cure by that time. We were told that the kids should just have their medical history and be sensitive to the symptoms, as with any other family medical problem such as heart disease, high cholesteral or high blood pressure, a family history of cancer, etc. The PBS movie "The Forgetting" provided some good info on the genetic research.

I'm one of those people who feels a little better and a little more in control by doing research, research, research. (I hope that my postings are sometimes helpful -- unfortunately, I know I won't have much control over the situation and I've got a lot to learn the hard way as my husband leaves the early stage...)

Please don't spoil your life by worrying about this although it is perfectly normal. Outside of my Mom and one Uncle, my father's brother, who died at 96, no one in my family has had Alzheimers. I think extreme old age is the cause here...

Even if genetic, not everyone gets it, and as you said, there is so much research being done that a cure or prevention may soon be found.

Have faith, and a positive attitude. Your strength is now needed for the patient ... keep active, and you will be OK.

Love

Martha

Alzheimers isn't always genetic .... so many variations .. so many other theories ..... it can't be checked unless you need an autopsy, and by then .. well .. I don't think it's really a worry ....

However, if you ARE concerned badly enough, ensure you have a legal LIVING WILL .... cover every avenue that needs to be covered. Learn from the lessons being offered to you now ..

Goodluck

Sally

Hi, Suzi

Two websites with really good info are

alzheimersassoc..org
aarp.org

Alzheimer's Disease is inherited...or at least the chance of getting it. However, this does not guarantee that you will develop it.

all the best.

hey everyone! thanks for all your information. I dont really spend many days stressing about it because I am still fairly young where hopefully I wont have to worry about it for a while, if it will even be an issue. just when i do think about it occasionally it terrifies me becuase I'd rather have the worst, most painful cancer ever than alzheimer's because at least when you die that's it, you're dead but alzheimer's it's almost like you "die" way before you really do die if that makes sense. you cant even remember your loved ones, or in my grandma's case she forgot how to walk or talk. thanks again for the info and the positive support!
~Suzzane

bump for needtoescape