Questions (FAQs)
Chromosome 3
Alzheimer's Disease Form Linked To Chromosome
3 by Researchers
A familial case of Alzheimer’s disease without
tau pathology may be linked with chromosome 3 markers
from:
Human Genetics
Chromosome 12
Mutations In A2M
Gene Linked With Late Onset Alzheimer's Disease
Could Alpha 2-Macroglobulin Be Linked With
Late Onset Alzheimer's Disease?
Chromosome 12 and late-onset Alzheimer's
disease*
from:Neuroscience Letters
*single copies of the article can be downloaded and printed
for personal research and study
Chromosome 19
Research Indicates Strong Association
Between APOE 4, APOCI A Genes
A new locus on chromosome 19 linked
with late-onset Alzheimer's disease
from:NeuroReport
Research on Alzheimer's Disease
What is Alzheimer’s Disease? Alzheimer’s disease affects primarily the elderly. It causes profound memory loss. First short term or recent memory fades and then eventually long term memory is also lost. Those having the disease slowly forget not only current events, but also how to dress and feed themselves. Eventually they do not recognize their loved ones and must be cared for as one cares for a child.
Alzheimer’s disease is difficult to diagnose. Many medical disorders can cause memory loss, including thyroid deficiency and overmedication. There is no definitive treatment for this disease.
Why is Research Important? Understanding what causes this disease will lead to identification of patients early before symptoms start. Then intervention will be possible to prevent this disease.
Our research suggests that several genes that are mutated or changed may be the cause of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. In our DNA Bank of Texas families we had a number of very large extended families that had 3-4 family members affected. We found that several of these families had one mutated gene while other families had another mutated gene.
What is the Next Step in this Research? We will use these extended families to identify the mutated genes. Then we will screen our pool of Alzheimer’s patients who enrolled into the DNA Bank for these mutations. Controls will be unaffected spouses. This will tell us the significance of these mutations for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
What is New About our Findings? In the past it has been questioned whether there is a genetic link for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Our studies prove that mutated genes may cause late-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
What is the Significance of these Findings? We believe that late-onset Alzheimer’s disease is a complex disease. It is likely that multiple genes will be involved, either as risk factors or as causative agents. Different forms of the disease may be caused by different mutated genes. For example, patients with behavioral problems may have a mutated gene on chromosome 12 while patients with problems in walking or initiating movements (parkinsonism) may have a mutated gene on chromosome 3.
Why is this Important? We believe that different groups of Alzheimer’s patients (e.g., those with behavioral problems, those with parkinsonism, etc) may have disparate responses to the various drugs that are coming on the market. One group of Alzheimer’s patients may be helped by the drug while another group may not be helped. Medical treatment must be designed to meet individual needs. Pharmacogenomics will help families by customizing medications for their loved ones without the expense of paying for inappropriate medicines.
Statistics on Alzheimer’s Disease: In 1993 there were 4 million people with Alzheimer’s disease in this country. The cost for care in 1991 was $6 billion dollars. It has been estimated that if a person lives to be 65 years old, that person has a 5% risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. However, if that person lives to be 85 years old, he/she has a 50% risk of developing the disease. That number will surely escalate as our baby boomers retire. This disease knows no boundaries. It affects rich and poor alike, all races, all religions, both sexes. It is only through research that we will find the cause of this devastating disease and ultimately its prevention.