- Researchers agree that genetics play a crucial role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Previous research shows that about 25% of all cases of Alzheimer’s disease are familial.
- Mass General Brigham researchers say a person’s inherited genetic risk for Alzheimer’s may also depend on whether they receive it from their biological mother or father.
Although researchers do not yet know the exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease, they do know that many factors are involved, including genetics.
Previous studies suggest that genes inherited from both parents may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. One of the main genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease is
Previous research shows that
Now, Mass General Brigham researchers say a person’s inherited genetic risk for Alzheimer’s may also depend on whether they receive it from their biological mother or father.
The study was recently published in the journal
For this study, researchers analyzed data from approximately 4,400 participants aged 65 to 85.
Participants were asked if and when their biological parents experienced symptoms of memory loss, as well as whether they had received a formal diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.
Study participants also received PET scans to measure amounts of a protein called
“The accumulation of beta-amyloid is thought to be the first disease process in Alzheimer’s disease that occurs at a preclinical (pre-symptomatic) stage,” Hyun-Sik Yang, MD, associate neurologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, assistant professor of neurology at Harvard. Faculty of Medicine and corresponding author of this study said Medical news today.
“Our study participants all had normal cognition, but some had substantial amyloid accumulation. The preclinical stage of Alzheimer’s disease represents a unique window for preventive intervention before it is too late. So, we focused on beta-amyloid rather than other later processes or symptoms,” he told us.
At the study’s conclusion, Yang and his team found that participants with a maternal history of memory problems at all ages and a paternal history of early-onset memory problems before age 65 were linked to higher rates higher levels of beta-amyloid in the brain.
“Both maternal history, regardless of age at onset, and paternal history of early-onset dementia were associated with increased risk, whereas paternal history of late-onset dementia was not,” Yang said. MNT. However, he added:
“Our study suggests that maternal and paternal history of dementia/memory loss may have a different impact on the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in children. Furthermore, our study highlights the importance of collecting the family history of both parents and their ages at onset. »
“In complex diseases usual in medicine, we expect the father’s and mother’s genes to have the same effect on the offspring,” he continued.
“However, in this case we observed a striking asymmetry suggesting that genetic information from the mother may have a greater impact on Alzheimer’s disease risk,” Yang said.
“This pattern of maternal transmission was observed
Dysfunction of mitochondria – the so-called cellular powerhouses – has previously been linked to symptoms of dementia, which could provide more insight into this link.
“Other explanations include genomic imprinting – a chemical change in DNA on the mother’s or father’s side – which could impact the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in offspring,” Yang told us.
Different life expectancies between men and women may have influenced the study results, however, according to the author: “(In) our study participants – who are over 65 years old – in the parents’ generation , many (male) fathers may not have lived long. enough to suffer from dementia. This may have also affected our result.
After reviewing this study, Karen D. Sullivan, PhD, ABPP, board-certified neuropsychologist, owner of I CARE FOR YOUR BRAIN and Reid Healthcare Transformation Fellow at FirstHealth of the Carolinas in Pinehurst, North Carolina, who was not involved in this research, said MNT This research constitutes an important contribution to the understanding of the heritability of Alzheimer’s disease.
“Using an impressive sample of 4,000 people, they showed that paternal history of late onset does not increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, but paternal history at an early stage and maternal history at any age were associated with a high risk of amyloid plaque burden.” Sullivan said.
“These results show preferential maternal transmission of Alzheimer’s disease beginning even before diagnosable memory loss. This finding has broad clinical implications for risk stratification and who we should target for early identification and preclinical studies with advanced neuroimaging,” she noted.
“We have known for some time that it will take several years, even decades, to cure Alzheimer’s disease, before the clinical symptoms of memory loss, difficulty finding words and apathy begin,” Sullivan continued.
“This data points us in an evidence-based direction as to who we should be looking at more closely. Sex chromosomes are an exciting new research specialty in Alzheimer’s disease and we need to follow this cohort longitudinally to see their clinical trajectory,” she further explained.
MNT also spoke with Jasdeep S. Hundal, PsyD, ABPP-CN, associate professor of psychiatry and neurology at 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.
He commented that this study highlights the complex role that genetics can play in Alzheimer’s disease, particularly highlighting how maternal inheritance has a significant impact on amyloid accumulation, a key
“This is intriguing because it reinforces the importance of family history in assessing Alzheimer’s disease risk, but also highlights the need for more nuanced approaches in prevention and early detection strategies. The fact that maternal history has a different impact from that of the father could lead to more personalized and effective interventions. Additionally, the study’s focus on expanding research to include more diverse populations is crucial to a comprehensive understanding of the disease.
– Jsdeep S. Hundal, PsyD, ABPP-CN
Hundal said there are several reasons why researchers need to continue studying the impact of genetics and family history on the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, including identifying people at higher risk earlier in life, creating personalized care plans and discovering new medications and other therapeutic interventions.
“Continued research into the genetic and familial aspects of Alzheimer’s disease is essential to advance strategies for early detection, personalized treatment and prevention, thereby improving patient outcomes and reducing the societal burden of the disease “, he added.