Alzheimer’s Society comment on genetic risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease

However, the role of genetics in the development of dementia is still not fully understood. This is an important study following families affected by dementia over a long period of time.

For the majority of people the effect of inheritance seems to be small. If a parent or other relative has dementia your own chances of developing it are only a little higher than if there were no cases of dementia in the family. This study suggests that this risk is increased if both of your parents have had dementia.

We also know that there are a small number of families where there is a very clear inheritance of dementia from one generation to the next.

We are still learning what causes Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.
It is clear that genes do play a role but the largest risk factor remains your age. As one in three people who live to over 65 will die with dementia it is vital that more research is carried out to fight this devastating condition.

Dr Susanne Sorensen
Head of research