Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most elementary forms of dementia around the world, afflicting millions of patients and their families. Slowly, it impairs memory, the ability to think, and the ability to maintain basic tasks. Under such circumstances, people often wonder whether Alzheimer’s can be passed on genetically. The short answer is: yes, genetics can be involved but it is not truly the only factor. In this article, we will discuss Alzheimer’s, its high risk groups, and the genetic factors in detail.
What is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Alzheimer’s is known as a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive death of brain cells with the passage of time. The disease predominantly affects the elderly, although people under the age of 65 may develop early onset Alzheimer’s. It causes progressive loss of thinking, remembering and judgement. Abnormal protein accumulation in the brain causes cell damage and shrinkage of the brain over time, and this is deemed the cause of Alzheimer’s disease.
What are the symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease?
In the early phase of alzheimer’s disease diagnosis some of the common and subtle symptoms include:
- Forgetting things needed for daily tasks
- Trouble in solving problems and planning
- Confusion with dates, seasons, and the passage of time
- Difficulty figuring out visual images or spatial relationships
- Problem speaking or writing fluently.
- Interference with work or social activities
- Changes in mood or personality
Eventually, once the disease progresses, the person will need full-time care.
Who is at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s?
Certain people are believed to be potentially predisposed to developing Alzheimer’s. These risk factors include:
- Age: Risk increases significantly after 65.
- Family history: Having a parent or sibling with Alzheimer’s increases risk.
- Genes: Certain genes have been associated with a higher risk.
- Lifestyle: Smoking, bad diet, lack of physical exercise, or untreated diabetes or hypertension.
- Head injury: Severe or repeated injuries in an accident.
It is worth mentioning that while having risk factors does not mean a person will certainly develop the condition, risk factors do demand that the person keep a closer watch.
Can Alzheimer’s be Genetic?
Yes, alzheimer’s disease can be transferred genetically; however, this is only one part of the picture. There are two types of Alzheimer’s that can be transferred genetically:
- Early Onset Familial Alzheimer’s: This form usually occurs between the ages of 30 to 60, and is directly linked to the inherited gene mutations.
- Late Onset Alzheimer’s: This is the more common type of Alzheimer’s, which begins to develop late, and is caused by both genetics and other environmental factors.
It is of utmost importance for the people who are in the high risk groups, or are facing any kind of symptoms of Alzheimer’s to consult an expert healthcare provider in order to manage the condition appropriately.
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