Having a mother with Alzheimer’s Genetic disorders than paternal history.
That’s according to a recent study from Massachusetts General Hospital at the Brigham Hospital, in which researchers analyzed 4,400 adults between the ages of 65 and 85 who had no signs of cognitive decline but who had detectable amyloid in brain imaging scans.
People with high amyloid levels have mothers who Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease Researchers found that memory loss was the main culprit.
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Amyloid is a protein that accumulates in the brain to form plaques that affect cognitive function and is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
The findings were published in June in JAMA Neurology.
A new study finds that having a mother with Alzheimer’s disease may increase a person’s risk of inheriting the genetic disease more than having a father’s history of the condition. (iStock)
“Our study showed a striking asymmetry in the impact of maternal and paternal dementia history on the risk of amyloid-β protein accumulation in the offspring’s brains. Maternal history “It has a larger impact,” Hyun-sik Yang, MD, a neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital Brigham and lead author of the study, told Fox News Digital in an email.
“In our study, a maternal history of dementia increased the risk of children developing preclinical Alzheimer’s disease, whereas a paternal history had no significant effect.”
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Yang noted that the researchers, a collaborative team from the University of Massachusetts Brigham, Vanderbilt University and Stanford University, predicted similar genetic risks inherited from both the mother and the father.
“Our findings suggest that this is not the case and raise interesting questions about the genetics of AD and how AD risk is inherited,” he said.
“In our study, a maternal history of dementia increased the risk of their children developing preclinical Alzheimer’s disease, whereas a paternal history had no significant effect,” the researchers said. (iStock)
Yang noted that the study participants had what’s known as “preclinical Alzheimer’s disease,” a state in which amyloid builds up but has no symptoms.
“This step may represent a unique opportunity to treat Alzheimer’s disease before it irreversibly destroys the brain,” he said.
The researchers also found a correlation between parental history of Alzheimer’s disease and amyloid buildup, as well as fathers having early-onset dementia.
“It’s interesting from a genetic standpoint to see one sex contributing something that the other sex doesn’t.”
“Early onset of the condition in fathers is associated with elevated levels in their offspring,” lead author Mabel Seto, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher in the Brigham Department of Neurology, said in a press release.
“But it doesn’t matter when your mother first developed symptoms. If she does, it’s associated with increased amyloid.”
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Women are nearly twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s than men More than menAccording to data from the Alzheimer’s Association.
“It’s very interesting from a genetic perspective to see one sex contributing something that the other sex doesn’t,” Seto said.
Study limitations
Dr. Courtney Kloske, director of scientific affairs at the Alzheimer’s Association in Chicago, Illinois, was not involved in the study but commented on the findings.
“This study sheds light on the interplay between genetics and cognitive function in people with a family history of cognitive decline,” Kloske told Fox News Digital in an email.
One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease is a protein called amyloid, which accumulates in the brain, forming plaques that affect cognitive function. (iStock)
Experts have pointed out, and the researchers acknowledge, limitations in the study.
“The authors say their findings should be interpreted with caution,” she said.
One major limitation is that study participants self-reported their family history, which may introduce some degree of bias and inaccuracy.
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“Furthermore, women generally have a longer life expectancy than men, which may also contribute to the higher incidence of cognitive impairment in women,” Kloske added.
Yang also spoke about this limitation, saying that the study participants senior citizen And their parents’ generation had a shorter life expectancy, especially for men.
Elevated amyloid levels significantly increase the risk of eventually developing dementia, but more research is needed to fully determine the impact of family history on the course of Alzheimer’s disease. (Associated Press)
“The father may have died before reaching an age when dementia is more prevalent, making it more difficult to assess his actual dementia risk,” he said.
Another consideration, Kroske said, is that the parents in the study were from a generation of parents who were less likely to join the workforce, and Low level of education.
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“These trends limit the generalizability of these results,” she said.
Yang also reiterated that no study participants had dementia, saying, “We asked about their family history and matched the results of their amyloid PET scans.”
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Elevated amyloid levels significantly increase the risk of eventually developing dementia, Yang noted. Further research This research is needed to fully determine the impact of family history on the course of Alzheimer’s disease.
According to data from the Alzheimer’s Association, women are nearly twice as likely as men to develop Alzheimer’s disease. (iStock)
“We believe it is important for doctors examining patients with dementia to gather detailed family history information, such as the parents’ medical history and age at onset, if there is a history of memory loss or dementia,” he said.
Researchers say it’s also important to look for ways to reduce your risk, especially if you have a family history.
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“Lifestyle and environmental factors are thought to play a major role in dementia risk,” Yang said.
“I always tell my patients, Healthy LifestyleThese include a heart-healthy diet, regular exercise and a socially and intellectually active lifestyle.”
