Dr. Amy Sanders: If my parent has Alzheimer's disease am I going to get it too? I'm Dr Amy Sanders, lead dementia neurologist at Sunday health and I have been taking care of patients with dementia and their loved ones for more than 16 years so I have heard this question many many times and the short answer is well maybe.
Genetic Factors in Alzheimer's Disease
Deterministic Genetic Mutations
You see there are some genetic mutations that are deterministic they confer your destiny if you have one of these mutations you will get Alzheimer's disease but there are other genetic markers not mutations just markers that increase one's risk for getting Alzheimer's disease not Destiny just risk.APOE Gene and Risk MarkersThe most famous of these is the Epsilon or E4 marker in the apoe Gene and if you have one copy of that marker your risk getting Alzheimer's disease goes up by about 25% two copies meaning one from each parent your risk Rises quite dramatically.
Modifiable Risk Factors
As we all know genetic risk is not modifiable but many other demential risk factors are modifiable so if one knows that one has a genetic risk factor then it makes sense to try to modify as much as possible the modifiable risk factors so so that means get a good night of sleep eat a healthy diet minimize the amount of ultra processed foods you eat and exercise I'm sure you all know the drill by now having heard this from many doctors but now you know why it's important.
Closing
For more information about brain health cognitive assessment and dementia find us at sundayhealth.com. Be well.
