You're more likely to get Alzheimer's if your mom has it, major study suggests READ MORE: Scientists find genetic trait that almost GUARANTEES Alzheimer's By Luke Andrews Senior Health Reporter For Dailymail.Com Published: 16:25, 17 June 2024 | Updated: 17:11, 17 June 2024 e-mail 6 View comments You may be more likely to develop Alzheimer's if your mother has been diagnosed with the disease, compared to if your father has suffered it, a new study suggests. However, those who have fathers diagnosed with the degenerative condition early — before the age of 65 years — may also be at higher risk of developing the disease than the average patient.
Researchers in Massachusetts made the discovery after analyzing brain scans of 4,400 adults with an average age of 70, and with no cognitive impairments. Each brain was scanned for amyloid plaques — a build-up of toxic protein thought to be a precursor of Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia. Researchers found those with higher levels of plaques in the brain tended to have a family history of the disease on their mother's side.
You may be more likely to develop dementia if your mother had the disease at any time in her life, a study suggests However, higher-than-average amyloid levels were also seen on the brains of those who had fathers that were diagnosed with Alzheimer's at 65 or younger. Amyloid plaques are thought to trigger the disease by disrupting communications between brain cells, stopping the organ functioning c.
