Is Alzheimer's hereditary?

Question:

All the women in my family have this horrible disease and now that my cousin and I have a family we often talk about this. Are there test to find out if you are at risk.

Answers:
I'm an RN and yes there is a genetic component to this disease but not always. Like many other diseases, a diagnosis cannot be made prior to the actual development of symptoms as well as organic changes in the brain itself. Diagnosis is usually made by first ruling out other brain disorders having common symptoms such as Dementia. There are specific cognitive function tests used to test memory, spatial arrangement, object function, etc. In addition, there are specific brain scans that can be ordered which indicate changes in brain proteins, (amyloid plaques), EEG's show a diffuse slowing of waves in the more advanced stages, and CT Scans show enlargement of the brain ventricals and subarchnoid space resulting from the diffuse brain atrophy. Several medications are available which slow down the progression of the disease but do not stop it. Also recently there have been a number of studies to show that keeping the brain as active as possible helps to slow down progression of the disease. These studies suggest ongoing brain stimulation by doing all kinds of puzzles, playing speed games on Gameboys, etc. It is beneficial for all of us as we get older to keep our brains as stimulated as possible. Even doing daily crossward puzzles from the newspaper is very helpful. In summary, it has been said that with old age we forget where we put our keys but with Alzheimer's we forget what keys are for. The good news is that there are many new resources and treatment protocols for Alzheimer's just on the horizon. Good luck to you.

I think it must be. My mom was diagnosed with it when she was about 58 yrs old and she died when she was 66.
I have 4 sisters and 2 brothers and we all are very worried it is hereditary.
I dont know if I would want to know if I carried the gene. I think you can be tested to find out if you are going to get it, but do you really want to know?

alzeimers can be also induced by drugs when they have side effects

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Is Alzheimer's hereditary?

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