US study establishes first detailed timeline for brain's descent into Alzheimer's

[Alzheimer's Society]

Scientists have evaluated a variety of pre-symptomatic markers of Alzheimer's disease in 128 subjects from families genetically predisposed to develop the disorder.

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[Barry]

I read the article above with great interest and with optimism for future sufferers of this terrible illness but then it made me think! As I’d always been lead to understand and also read in medical journals and various websites that Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia wasn’t hereditary? But now in this report it mentions a hereditary strain of Alzheimer’s which obviously causes me some confusion and great concern for my children’s mid-life to later well being and especially as my own Grandfather, then my Father-Law had the illness, and now I have Alzheimer’s? So I think we still need to have far more information on the future consequences of this research news

[BungleGirl]

Hi Barry,

The hereditary form of Alzheimer's Disease (normally referred to as Familial Alzheimer's Disease or FAD - in the UK) is very rare and is nearly always early onset. There are three known gene mutations APP, Presenilin-1 and Presenelin-2. If a parent has one of the gene mutations then each of their children will have a 50% chance of inheriting the gene mutation and will go on to develop Alzheimer's Disease. Usually there will be a strong family history (to take part in the upcoming DIAN drugs trials you must either have a parent with a confirmed gene mutation or 3 generations of AD in the family with onset at 55 or younger) and usually the age of symptoms starting will be very similar through the generations. The work that DIAN are doing is brilliant and it is hoped that they will start treatment trials in the near future - the hope is to find a treatement that can be given 10-15 years before the parents age of symptoms that would delay the start of symptoms rather than slow down progression once symptoms have started. Coming from a FAD family this gives me great hope and I'm taking part in the DIAN study and hope to take part in the drugs trials too if/when they start. The problem is that it is very rare and therefore there aren't a great number of people who fit the criteria to take part in it and they need more people to take part in order for the drugs trial to be worthwhile. I believe that the rarity was the reason for making it an international study (USA/Austrailia/UK).

There are genetic tests which people can ask for through their GP to find out if they have one of the known gene mustations but I'm guessing that anyone asking would have to give a reason as to why they think that they might have it e.g. family history. It takes six months to get the results and there is a lot of genetic counselling in that time to make sure that the person being tested is 100% sure that they want to know the results. I have chosen not to be tested.

I have read that there is also great hope that through the DIAN study it will help others who may develop late-onset (sporadic) Alzheimer's Disease.

Sophie x

[nmintueo]

More info in the press release:

Inherited Alzheimer’s detectable 20 years before dementia
http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/22496.aspx