ISLAMABAD, June 22 (Online): Researchers agree that genetics play a crucial role in the development of Alzheimer\u2019s disease.
\nPrevious research shows that about 25% of all Alzheimer\u2019s disease cases are familial.
\nResearchers from Mass General Brigham say that a person\u2019s inherited Alzheimer\u2019s genetic risk may also be dependent upon whether they receive it from their biological mother or father.
\nAlthough researchers still do not know the exact cause of Alzheimer\u2019s disease, they do know there are quite a few factors involved, including genetics.<\/p>\n
Past studies suggest that inherited genes from both parents can increase a person\u2019s risk of developing Alzheimer\u2019s disease. One top genetic risk factor for Alzheimer\u2019s is the APOE4 geneTrusted Source, and a study published in March 2024 identified 17 genetic variantsTrusted Source associated with this condition.<\/p>\n
Previous research shows that about 25%Trusted Source of all Alzheimer\u2019s disease cases are familial, meaning someone in the family had the condition.<\/p>\n
Now, researchers from Mass General Brigham say that a person\u2019s inherited Alzheimer\u2019s genetic risk may also be dependent upon whether they receive it from their biological mother or father.<\/p>\n
Toxic protein accumulation in the brain the focal point of the study
\nFor this study, researchers analyzed data from about 4,400 participants between the ages of 65 and 85 of the Anti-Amyloid Treatment in Asymptomatic Alzheimer\u2019s Disease (A4)Trusted Source study aimed at Alzheimer\u2019s disease prevention.<\/p>\n
Participants were asked if their biological parents had memory loss symptoms and when, as well as if they had received any formal diagnoses of Alzheimer\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Study participants also received PET scans to measure the amounts of a protein called beta-amyloidTrusted Source in their brains.<\/p>\n
\u201cAmyloid-beta accumulation is thought to be the earliest disease process of Alzheimer\u2019s disease that occurs at a preclinical (pre-symptomatic) stage,\u201d Hyun-Sik Yang, MD, associate neurologist at Brigham and Women\u2019s Hospital, assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, and corresponding author of this study told Medical News Today.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur study participants all had normal cognition, but some had substantial amyloid accumulation. The preclinical stage of Alzheimer\u2019s disease represents a unique window for preventive intervention before it is too late. Thus, we focused on amyloid-beta rather than other later processes or symptoms,\u201d he told us.<\/p>\n
Maternal history of Alzheimer\u2019s may have greater risk impact
\nAt the study\u2019s conclusion, Yang and his team found that participants with a maternal history of memory issues at all ages and a paternal history of early-onset memory impairment before the age of 65 were linked to higher beta-amyloid levels in the brain.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaternal history of any age at onset and paternal history of early onset dementia were associated with increased risk, while paternal history of late-onset dementia was not,\u201d Yang told MNT. However, he added:<\/p>\n
\u201cOur study suggests that maternal and paternal history of dementia\/memory loss might carry different weight in their impact on the offspring\u2019s Alzheimer\u2019s disease risk. Also, our study highlights the importance of collecting family history for both parents and their age at onset.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the usual complex diseases in medicine, we expect genes from the father and the mother to have the same effect on the offspring,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, in this case, we observed a striking asymmetry suggesting that genetic information from the mother might have a stronger impact on the risk of Alzheimer\u2019s disease,\u201c said Yang.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis maternal inheritance pattern has been observed in mitochondrial disordersTrusted Source, so we speculate whether mitochondrial inheritance may play a role in Alzheimer\u2019s disease,\u201c the researcher continued.<\/p>\n
Dysfunction of the mitochondria \u2014 the so-called cellular powerhouses \u2014 has previously been associated with symptoms of dementia, so this could provide further insight about this link.<\/p>\n
\u201cOther explanations include genomic imprinting \u2014 chemical modification of DNA on the mother\u2019s or father\u2019s side \u2014 that may impact the offspring\u2019s risk of having Alzheimer\u2019s disease,\u201d Yang told us.<\/p>\n
Different life expectancies for males versus females may have influenced the study results, though, according to the author: \u201c[I]n our study participants \u2014 who are 65+ years old \u2014 parent generation, many fathers (males) might not have lived long enough to get dementia. This might have affected our result, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018Broad clinical implications\u2019 in determining Alzheimer\u2019s risk risk
\nAfter reviewing this study, Karen D. Sullivan, PhD, ABPP, a board-certified neuropsychologist, owner of I CARE FOR YOUR BRAIN, and Reid Healthcare Transformation Fellow at FirstHealth of the Carolinas in Pinehurst, NC, not involved in this research, told MNT this research is an important contribution to understanding the heritability of Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n
\u201cUsing an impressive sample size of 4,000, they showed that late-onset paternal history does not raise (the) risk for Alzheimer\u2019s disease but early-stage paternal history and maternal history at any age were associated with elevated risk of amyloid plaque burden,\u201d Sullivan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese results show a preferential maternal inheritance of Alzheimer\u2019s disease starting even before diagnosable memory loss. This finding has broad clinical implications for risk stratification and who we need to be targeting for early identification, pre-clinical studies with advanced neuroimaging,\u201d she noted.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have known for some time that the cure for Alzheimer\u2019s disease is going to be many years, if not decades before the clinical symptoms of memory loss, word-finding difficulty, and apathy begin,\u201d Sullivan continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese data point us in an evidence-based direction about who we should be looking the most closely at. Sex chromosomes are an exciting new specialty research in Alzheimer\u2019s disease and we need to track this cohort longitudinally to see their clinical trajectory,\u201d she further explained.<\/p>\n
\u2018Need for more nuanced approaches in Alzheimer\u2019s prevention\u2019
\nMNT also spoke with Jasdeep S. Hundal, PsyD, ABPP-CN, associate professor of psychiatry and neurology at the Hackensack Meridian Health School of Medicine and director of The Center for Memory & Healthy Aging at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in New Jersey, about this study. Hundal was also not involved in this research.<\/p>\n
He commented that this study underscores the intricate role genetics can play in Alzheimer\u2019s disease, particularly highlighting how maternal inheritance significantly impacts amyloid accumulation, a key biomarkerTrusted Source for Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is intriguing because it reinforces the importance of family history in assessing Alzheimer\u2019s risk, but also points to the need for more nuanced approaches in prevention and early detection strategies. The fact that maternal history has a different impact compared to paternal history could lead to more personalized and effective interventions. Additionally, the study\u2019s emphasis on expanding research to include more diverse populations is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of the disease.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2013 Jsdeep S. Hundal, PsyD, ABPP-CN<\/p>\n
Hundal said there are several reasons why researchers need to continue to investigate how genetics and family history impact a person\u2019s risk of developing Alzheimer\u2019s disease, including identifying higher-risk individuals earlier in life, creating personalized care plans, and discovering new drugs and other therapeutic interventions<\/p>\n
\u201cContinued research into the genetic and familial aspects of Alzheimer\u2019s disease is vital for advancing early detection, personalized treatment, and prevention strategies, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing the societal burden of the disease,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD, June 22 (Online): Researchers agree that genetics play a crucial role in the development of Alzheimer\u2019s disease. Previous research shows that about 25% of all Alzheimer\u2019s disease cases are familial. Researchers from Mass General Brigham say that a person\u2019s inherited Alzheimer\u2019s genetic risk may […]<\/p>\n
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