Expert: Paula Damgaard - 1/19/2006

Question
Hello. I am sixteen years old and my grandmother has alzheimers. I was curious as to how much of a higher risk my mother and I have to developing the disease later in our lives. Is alzheimer's known to skip a generation, or does it just occur sporadically in families? Thanks for any info you may have...

Answer
Hi Sarah,  it is not totally known if it is genetic or not.  The thoughts are that it may possibly be hereditary through our mothers.  There are known hereditary factors for people who develop the disease early on like in their 40's or early 50's.  

The best advice I can tell you, is to get an autopsy on your grandmother,  because if they develop anything that people who have proof, that they have a direct relative who had the disease, then they would be able to participate in those studies.  I will be in that group in those studies - my mother had the disease and I had the autopsy done on her when she died and now I have the proof.  Without the autopsy, you will never know for sure.  

The amount of research that is being done is amazing and new things are being found all the time.  So having the autopsy is crucial.  

I know this doesn't totally answer your question I know but I hope I have helped you some.  The other thing you should do is get in touch with the Alzheimer's Association cause they would be your best bet to find out if anything really new comes about.  Good luck.  Paula