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.

Gifts For Alzheimers

With Alzheimers Ronald Reagan, this support has gained in momentum and more human embryonic stem cell research is needed that can throw up means that will someday lead to the cure for Alzheimers disease.

There are new blood tests that can test for an Alzheimers gene with certain strains of Alzheimers. The intensity and severity of the symptoms will increase throughout the Alzheimers stages, ending with the most incapacitating symptoms that basically render the patient incapable of caring for himself. You may see his temper flare as tasks and conversations become somewhat more challenging. Install hand rails in the areas of the home where he might need additional assistance, like the bathtub and near the toilet. Tests are designed to show the level of cognitive ability as well as speech and the ability to perform certain tasks.

One of his patients was exhibiting unusual symptoms.
You may notice that your family member asks repeatedly about the time of day or year, and that getting dressed becomes a much bigger challenge. Often people dont realize that this is a symptom of Alzheimers and dont take it seriously. In fact, this is because it may not have any one cause at all. More revealing symptoms of alzheimers disease that may lead to knowing the cause include the person forgetting how to do things that theyve been doing for years, like work on cars or sew. These images are put into a computer which puts them together into images that show various areas of the body.

Alzheimers disease is something that affects more and more older people every day.
There are actually 7 stages of Alzheimers in which a patient goes from having mild to severe Alzheimers. - Alzheimers disease now accounts for the majority of dementia cases. There are, however, various new methods on the horizon that are considered as possibly being able to be the cure for this horrible disease, however this will not be known for sure until sometime far into the future. This is perhaps the most important Alzheimers information of all, because if you are able to understand the structure of the disease then if you do have a loved one who is suffering from it you are able to understand how they are feeling as the disease progresses in their case.