My view
Hmm, how come then, everything I have ever been told since the day we found out about Dad's diagnosis is that
early onset is predominantly hereditary?
The doctors told my parents at the time though that we shouldn't worry too much because by the time us kids were old enough to be at risk there would be a cure...yet time it ticking onward and still we seem no closer to such a miracle.
The following website
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/alzheimers/AZ00009
for example states:
"A significant proportion of early onset Alzheimers is linked to three genes...."
As I have read it, unlike ordinary alzheimers where you can carry a gene susceptible to Alzheimers but still have a good chance of not getting it, with early on-set
if it is the genetic variant, you tend to have a 50-50 chance of getting it.
That is IF it is the genetically caused early onset Alzheimers.
Usually if it is not evident in the rest of the family however you can relax.
There is still the possibility although extremely unlikely of what is called a 'de novo' mutation of the genes meaning your parent could be the first in the line to have dodgy genes...in which case it sucks to be their child. There is also the possibility that one of your family members lied about your parents' paternity/maternity (don't roll your eyes it happens, haven't u seen Jerry Springer?!) and thus the reason noone else in the family has it is because your parent's biological relatives with the genes were never known.
I know many people don't want to know about all this stuff but as you can tell I DID want to know,...so have looked into it quite a while. I'm terrified of having what has happened to Dad happen to me.
I do get annoyed too at people telling me not to worry, I don't need to worry, I am being silly for worrying. Saying all that is as silly as telling someone who has seen someone burnt alive not to feel nervous every time they smell smoke or see matches. Instead of telling me not to worry, I'd like a few people to start saying, "Nat I completely understand why you would be worried, all the more reason to focus on enjoying life now!"
Worrying can become an obsession. Worrying can help take your focus off your utter despair and sadnes. Worrying can give u ulcers...if more people did worry, maybe there would be a greater push for funding and research.
So my point is:
*Be careful of becoming obsessed;
*Recognise that you may be becoming obsessed because you are subconsciously avoiding dealing with your other emotions;
*Worry is not healthly but it is completely understandable;
*If you are worried, focus on making that worry productive by either enjoying life now just in case your worry proves right, or by pushing for society to do something about this disease;