Expert: Paula Damgaard - 12/10/2004

Question
When talking risk and about relatives with Alzheimer's I have seen that if Mother, Father, Brother and Sister have it then the risk can be greater. Does it extend to Aunts and Uncles? I have two Aunts on my Mother's side, two on my Father's side and my Mother with Alzhiemers. Do the Aunts cause my risk to be higher or just immediate family?
Thank you

Answer
Hi Bill,  first of all we don't really know the risk ratio.  You don't really know for sure what kind of dementia any of your relatives have yet.  The only way you will know for sure is by making sure that they have autopsies when they die.  That will be the only way anyone can answer your question.

Since the early 80's when we started doing more autopsies in elderly demented people we have found many other diagonises than just Alzheimer's.  In order to tell what is affecting your family is to make sure they get the autopsy so that when more research is done, we will be able to put the pieces together to give you the answer you are asking about.  

What we know now is that if you have a first degree relative then your chance of having Alzheimer's is 30%, where the general population has a 15% risk of developing the disease.  

I hope this answers your question.  Please feel free to ask again if you need more information.  Happy Holidays.  Paula