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[Genetic aspects of Alzheimer disease]
Anne Rita Øksengård1, Knut Engedal
1Nasjonalt kompetansesenter for aldersdemens Geratrisk avdeling Ullevål universitetssykehus 0407 Oslo. a.r.h.oksengard@ioks.uio.no
Background:
To supply relevant information about the genetics of Alzheimer's disease.
Materials And Methods:
Data from the literature (Medline) and personal experiences.
Results:
Two well-known risks for developing Alzheimer's disease are established: advanced age and genetic factors. Mutations linked to autosomal dominant familial Alzheimer's disease are known in chromosomes 21, 14 and 1. A non-mendelian Alzheimer's disease with complex aetiology is linked to the apolipoprotein E in chromosome 19.
Interpretation:
Children of patients with Alzheimer's disease have a three to four fold increased risk of developing the disease compared to a person without a parent with Alzheimer's disease. The diagnostic benefit of apolipoprotein E genotyping is still uncertain.