When people reach a certain age, they may become more watchful about the symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease, as the symptoms may become manifest before medical tests unveil the actual problem. If Alzheimer’s runs in your family, you need to be doubly vigilant about recognizing the danger signs because there has been shown to be a genetic link for Alzheimer’s Disease. As much as 60% of the risk of developing Alzheimer’s rests in heredity. We have written here about other factors, such as diet, education level, or race, but heredity is an enormously important part of the calculation.
The genetic link can help researchers determine exactly why Alzheimer’s develops in some people and not others. What exactly accounts for the genetic predisposition for Alzheimer’s? By studying the difference between people with a genetic predisposition and those who do not, it can tell researchers how Alzheimer’s develops in the brain. This is exactly what a new study unveils regarding Alzheimer’s and heredity.
The study revealed that:
The children of Alzheimer’s patients had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and 40% of them had hypertension, compared with 29% of those in the control group. The Alzheimer’s offspring also had a lower ankle brachial index — a comparison of resting blood pressure in the ankle and arm that is a sign of peripheral artery disease.
The researchers tested blood samples from both groups and found that the children of Alzheimer’s patients had significantly higher levels of several kinds of proinflammatory cytokines. Since these markers typically circulate at very low levels, the researchers said they are probably a consequence of the disease rather than a cause.
As expected, the APOE e4 variant was more common among the Alzheimer’s offspring (46.5%) than in the controls (21%). (Surprisingly, the researchers noted that APOE e4 carriers in both groups had nearly one less year of education compared with those who had other versions of the APOE gene.)
Though this study has not revealed a new biomarker for the disease, it does offer important information for those who have Alzheimer’s Disease in the family. The main take away from this study is that physical health is a major offset of Alzheimer’s, not just memory-related symptoms. Controlling hypertension is an important part of controlling the effects of Alzheimer’s. The fact that Alzheimer’s can lead to a heightened risk for Alzheimer’s means that prospective AD patients need to be especially careful about heart health. It is important to note that the symptoms of Alzheimer are not always memory-related – as exhibited by this study, there are varying bodily effects as well.
What is mentioned at the very end of the Times article is also crucial – those with a year less of education were more likely to have a gene variant of APOE e4, which has been shown to increase the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease. This requires further research, but it suggests that education actually alters brain chemistry and is a facet of whether or not a person develops the disease. All told, the study reveals that people with a genetic predisposition should stay both physically and mentally active, as these two facets are adversely affected by the disease.
The Importance of Keeping Healthy
It has been determined that Alzheimer’s can lead to an increased risk of hypertension and other physical health problems – but can keeping healthy stave off the disease as well? The short answer is: yes. So those with a genetic predisposition need to think seriously about keeping physically active, because not only can AD lead to hypertension, but exercising can stave off the effects of the disease as well. In general, what’s good for the heart is good for the brain.
Anything done to promote heart health could potentially be helpful for Alzheimer’s patients: cardiovascular workouts, watching cholesterol, limiting salt intake, and so on. To repeat: this is increasingly important for those who are more likely to get Alzheimer’s Disease due to genetic heritage. Though Alzheimer’s cannot yet be stopped, it can be slowed, and poor physical health can increase the rate of developing memory-related problems.
A quick list for keeping healthy:
- Eat well.
- Keep mentally active through reading, puzzle solving, and other cerebral activities.
- Keep socially active – this form of engagement has been shown to be stem the tide of Alzheimer’s Disease.
- Stay positive – this sounds a bit general, but anything that can increase a person’s positive outlook can have positive physical results – whether it’s social engagement, friendship, family visits, and so on. Emotional well-being and physical well-being are connected.
- Exercise – add to this: cut out unhealthy habits, such as smoking, drinking, or drug abuse.
Obviously, these tactics cannot control all the symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease, but one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s and its dispiriting effects is the loss of control. Taking active steps towards controlling the disease can have positive consequences. As illustrated by the study listed above, it is vital, especially if someone in your family has previously developed the disease.
Added note: November is National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. As always, we’ll be providing updates about the latest developments in Alzheimer’s research and how patients and families can prepare for the disease.
