Can you inherit Alzheimer's disease? Key things to know

Alzheimer's disease has been linked with genetics. As per MayoClinic, the most common gene associated with late-onset Alzheimer's disease is apolipoprotein E (APOE). "One copy of the APOE gene comes from the mother and another from the father. Having at least one APOE e4 gene doubles or triples the risk of getting Alzheimer's disease. Some people have two APOE e4 genes, one from each parent. Having two genes increases the risk of getting Alzheimer's disease even more, about eight- to twelvefold," it explains.

Genes like ABCA7, CLU, CR1, PICALM, PLD3, TREM2 and SORL1 are also said to be linked to the onset of Alzheimer's disease. For example, the CLU gene helps the brain dispose amyloid beta and studies have found that an imbalance in this leads to onset of Alzheimer's disease.

As per a 2011 study, published in the American Academy of Neurology, the chances of inheriting it from your mother are higher than from your father. “It is estimated that people who have first-degree relatives with Alzheimer’s disease are four to 10 times more likely to develop the disease themselves compared to people with no family history," study author Robyn Honea, DPhil, of the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City has said. For the study, 53 people were followed for two years.

As per the Alzheimer's Society, UK, majority of the Alzheimer's cases are not inherited. It says that age remains the biggest risk factor for the onset of Alzheimer's disease as many get this in their late 70s and 80s. "The most important risk factor for Alzheimer's disease is age. Because Alzheimer's disease is so common in people in their late 70s and 80s, having a parent or grandparent with Alzheimer's disease at this age does not change your risk compared to the rest of the population. However, if somebody has developed Alzheimer’s disease at an earlier age (for example, less than 60 years-old) there is a greater chance that it may be a type of Alzheimer’s disease that can be passed on," it says.

Young-onset, familial Alzheimer’s disease which starts before the age of 60 is likely due to a faulty gene that gets passed down to kids. Huntington’s disease and Familial Prion disease are rare types of dementia that are caused by a single faulty gene.

The early signs of Alzheimer's disease are forgetting things that have happened recently, not being able to remember things where they have been kept, forgetting a regular route or direction, getting confused very often, losing track of time, unable to solve even minor problems, facing problem in doing familiar task, unable to judge distances, feeling anxious without any reason and changes in personality.

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