Having a mother with Alzheimer's could mean a higher risk of hereditary disease than a paternal story.
This is according to a recent study from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Massachusetts. Researchers analysed 4,400 adults aged between 65 and 85 who showed no signs of cognitive decline but did show amyloid on brain scans.
People with higher amounts of amyloid were more likely to have mothers with Alzheimer's symptoms —primarily memory loss, the researchers found.
ALZHEIMER'S CAREGIVER'S MANUAL: HERE YOU'LL FIND EXPERT TIPS AND TECHNIQUES FOR THOSE WHO CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA
Amyloid, a protein that builds up in the brain and forms plaques that affect cognitive function, is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
The findings were published in JAMA Neurology in June.
Having a mother with Alzheimer's may put you at greater risk of developing the hereditary disease than having a paternal history of the disease, a new study has found. (iStock)
“Our study showed a striking asymmetry in the impact of maternal versus paternal history of dementia on the risk of brain amyloid beta protein accumulation in offspring, with Maternal history “This has a bigger impact,” corresponding senior author Hyun-Sik Yang, MD, a neurologist at Mass General Brigham, told Fox News Digital via email.
“In our study, a maternal history of dementia increased the risk of offspring having preclinical AD, while a paternal history had a smaller impact.”
FDA approves new drug for Alzheimer's disease: “significant results”
The researchers — a collaborative team from Mass General Brigham, Vanderbilt and Stanford — expected to see similar genetic risks passed from mothers to fathers, Yang said.
“Our results suggest otherwise, raising intriguing questions about the genetics of Alzheimer's disease and how risk for it is inherited,” he said.
“In our study, maternal history of dementia increased the risk of offspring having preclinical AD, whereas paternal history had a smaller impact,” one researcher said. (iStock)
The study participants had what's known as “preclinical Alzheimer's disease,” Yang said, which occurs when there is a buildup of amyloid but no symptoms.
“This stage could represent a unique opportunity to treat Alzheimer's disease before it irreversibly destroys the brain,” he said.
The researchers also found a correlation between amyloid buildup and a history of Alzheimer's on both sides of the family, as well as parents with early-onset dementia.
“It's interesting from a genetic perspective to see that one sex contributes something that the other doesn't.”
“If your father had early-onset symptoms, that's associated with elevated levels in the offspring,” said Mabel Seto, PhD, first author and a postdoctoral researcher in Brigham's Department of Neurology, in a news release.
“However, it doesn't matter when your mother started developing symptoms: if she did, they are associated with an elevated level of amyloid.”
IN A BREAKTHROUGH IN ALZHEIMER'S, RESEARCHERS IDENTIFY A 'PROTECTIVE GENE' THAT DELAYS THE DISEASE IN HIGH-RISK FAMILIES
Women are almost twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's That menaccording to data from the Alzheimer's Society.
“It's really interesting from a genetic perspective to see that one sex brings something to the table that the other doesn't,” Seto said.
Limitations of the study
Courtney Kloske, PhD, director of scientific engagement at the Alzheimer's Association in Chicago, Illinois, was not involved in the study but shared her thoughts on the findings.
“This study sheds light on the interaction between genetics and cognition in individuals with a family history of cognitive impairment,” Kloske told Fox News Digital in an email.
A protein called amyloid that builds up in the brain and forms plaques (which affect cognitive function) is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. (iStock)
The expert pointed out some limitations of the study, which the researchers also acknowledged.
“The authors note that their findings should be interpreted with caution,” he said.
A key limitation was that study participants self-reported their family history, which could introduce some degree of bias or inaccuracy.
ALZHEIMER'S BLOOD TEST PROVIDES FASTER DIAGNOSIS AND HIGHER ACCURACY AT MAYO CLINIC
“In addition, the generally longer life expectancy of women compared to men may contribute to the observed higher prevalence of cognitive impairment among women,” Kloske added.
Yang also spoke about this limitation, adding that the study participants were older adults and that average life expectancy was shorter in their parents' generation, especially for men.
While having elevated levels of amyloid significantly increases someone's risk of eventually developing dementia, more research is needed to determine the full impact of family history on the course of Alzheimer's disease. (AP Newsroom)
“That could have made it even more difficult to assess the actual risk of dementia in their parents, as they could have died before reaching the age when dementia becomes more common,” she said.
Another consideration, according to Kloske, is that the fathers in the current study lived in an “earlier, different era” when women were less likely to be in the workforce and had lower levels of education.
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
“These trends limit the generalizability of these results,” he said.
Yang also reiterated that none of the study participants had dementia: “We asked about their family history and compared it with the results of the amyloid PET scan.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
While having elevated levels of amyloid significantly increases someone's risk of eventually developing dementia, Yang noted, Further research The full impact of family history on the course of Alzheimer's disease needs to be determined.
Women are almost twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's as men, according to data from the Alzheimer's Society. (iStock)
“We believe it is important for physicians evaluating patients with dementia to gather detailed information about family history, including the medical history of both parents and their age at disease onset if there was memory loss or a history of dementia,” she said.
It's also important to look for ways to reduce risk, especially if someone has a family history, the researcher said.
For more articles on health, visit www.foxnews/health
“Lifestyle and environmental factors are thought to play an important role in the risk of dementia,” Yang said.
“I always tell my patients to focus on one thing. healthy life stylesuch as a heart-healthy diet, regular physical activity, and a socially and intellectually active lifestyle.”
