Expert: Paula Damgaard - 2/22/2011

Question
I had heard that Alzheimers can skip a generation. Is this true or can it be passed down from generation to generation?
Thank You
Vikki

Answer
Hi Vikki,
We don't really know the answer to that.  We know that early onset, at age 40, is hereditary and there is no missing generations.  For people who have late onset, we don't know the genetic make up.  We know that everyone has a 15% chance of developing AD on their lifeline.  So depending on your lifeline, it could be that you aren't "supposed" to get it until you are 150 years old.  Therefore you would never get it.  However if you had a head injury or weren't a "healthy" lifestyle person that too would move your "marker" up.  If you have a first degree relative who has AD then that increases your chances to 30%.

We don't know the cause of the disease so we really can't determine who will or when someone will get this disease.

Hope this answers your question.  Paula