What is the Alzheimers Gene?


Alzheimers disease has received a lot of attention over the last decade; much of this attention has been directed toward the existence of the Alzheimers Gene. Part of the reason behind this fact is that the cause for the disease has been difficult to pinpoint. In fact, this is because it may not have any one cause at all.

Types of Alzheimers Disease

Alzheimers Disease can be broadly categorized into two distinctive groups. These groups include late-onset Alzheimers disease and Familial Alzheimers Disease (FAD). FAD is characterized by a very early-onset and an extremely high number of family members being affected by it. Late-onset Alzheimers disease is by far the most common form.

The Alzheimers Gene

There are four chromosomes that have been shown to have something to do with the development of Alzheimers. These chromosomes are 1, 14, 19, and 21. A healthy person has a total of 46 chromosomes. These are generally 23 pairs of chromosomes; one of each pair is received from each parent.

There are many genes that have been associated with Alzheimers disease in studies, although a gene that can be labeling the Alzheimers gene does not necessarily exist. The gene that seems to be the most common indicator of late-onset Alzheimers disease is the APOE gene, located on the chromosome number 19. Specifically, when this gene shows the variant APOE4, the person with this trait is more likely to develop Alzheimers disease. This gene does not make their development of Alzheimers certain, only more likely. It seems to predispose individuals toward the disease.

In the early-onset Alzheimers disease FAD, many families that are predisposed to this disease have been shown to have an abnormality on chromosome number 21. They also seem to show more abnormalities on chromosomes 1 and 14 than other patients. This factor has lead doctors to believe that no single gene abnormality may be the cause of either type of Alzheimers disease. In fact, genes may only be a part of the overall picture of this disease.

This particular genetic discovery regarding chromosome number 21 was found interesting by many scientists because chromosome number 21 is also the chromosome involved with Down syndrome. Individuals that are diagnosed with Down syndrome have an extra copy of chromosome number 21 and they generally develop Alzheimer-like brain abnormalities as they grow older. The abnormality of chromosome 21 may be the closest thing to an Alzheimers gene that exists.

Overall, evidence suggests that there is no real Alzheimers gene, rather a large set of genes that work in conjunction with other factors that make Alzheimers disease more likely to strike.

Alzheimers And Related Disorders Association

Scientists are trying to discover how this disease works, and treatments that can be used to counter the progressive nature of the disease.

This is because these are the people who are going to have to care for and support the patient. The cognitive process may be damaged to the point they do not recognize even those people closest to them. You may be wondering whether or not you should get yourself tested.

Overall, evidence suggests that there is no real Alzheimers gene, rather a large set of genes that work in conjunction with other factors that make Alzheimers disease more likely to strike.
Most people will describe this disease as the death of the mind before the death of the body. There are actually 7 stages of Alzheimers in which a patient goes from having mild to severe Alzheimers. Usually Alzheimers disease normally appears after a person turns 60-years-old. Stage 6 is when the patient begins having personality changes.

This group works around the clock not just to help find the cause of Alzheimers, as well as a cure, but also to make life easier on the patients who have been diagnosed with this disease and the families that are there to help them.
Early-onset Alzheimers disease is somewhat different than most types of Alzheimers. There is however, he further states, the need for the family to be able to cope with the painful experience that his family would surely go through, and that he was sure that with the help of the public such difficulties would be less for the former First Lady. However, when they took Lipitor Alzheimers there was a significant and lesser depressed state in the patients, which begs the question as to how does Lipitor Alzheimers actually help patients.