Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

July 9, 2008 6:57:05 AM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

Back to the grid

Risk Rises if 2 Parents Have Alzheimer's

Posted Mar 10, 08 8:42 PM CDT in Science & Health    Most Covered

(Newser) – People whose mom and dad have Alzheimer's run a much higher risk of getting the disease, a new study finds. Researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle looked at 111 families in which both parents have Alzheimer's, and found that 42% of those aged 70 and up got the disease. Only one in 10 develop it in the general population, Reuters reports.

People usually develop Alzheimer's after turning 65, but only a third of those studied had reached 70. "The numbers will be interesting to follow as they get older and older," one researcher said. "I think it confirms that there's a strong genetic component in the disease and that's not a surprise."

Source Reuters

Editor Recommended

Related News

  • Ibuprofen Cuts Alzheimer's Risk: Study

    May 6, 08 7:35 AM CDT
    Ibuprofen Cuts Alzheimer's Risk: Study Long-term use of ibuprofen and some similar drugs cut the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, according to new research. The study found the drugs cut the risk of dementia by more than 40%, WebMD reports. Doctors warn, however, that such medications can have serious side effects and that it 's too early to recommend taking them to ward off the disease. More »

  • Depression Linked to Alzheimer's

    Apr 8, 08 5:36 AM CDT
    Depression Linked to Alzheimer's Nearly 50% of Alzheimer's patients also suffer from depression, and new studies suggest the depression came first, WebMD reports. Researchers found that elderly people with a history of depression were much more likely to develop dementia. The findings give greater urgency to early treatment for depression, experts warn. More »

  • A Coffee a Day May Keep Dementia Away: Study

    Apr 3, 08 4:52 AM CDT
    A Coffee a Day May Keep Dementia Away: Study A daily fix of caffeine helps shield the brain from the damaging effects of cholesterol, which is apparently the way coffee helps reduce the risk of dementia, new research suggests. The "blood-brain barrier" protects the brain from toxins in the bloodstream, but scientists have discovered that cholesterol makes it leaky. The strength of the barrier was boosted in rabbits given the caffeine equivalent of a daily cup of joe, reports the BBC. More »

  • Education Staves Off Alzheimer's

    Oct 23, 07 4:17 AM CDT
    Education Staves Off Alzheimer's Higher levels of education help delay the onset of Alzheimer's, but once the disease takes hold, mental decline is faster among those with more schooling, researchers have found. Each year of  education is linked to a 2.5 month delay in accelerated memory loss, according to the study in Neurology. But once it begins, mental deterioration progresses 4% faster for each year of education. More »

  • 'Conscientious' Folks Face Lower Risk of Alzheimer's

    Oct 2, 07 4:12 AM CDT
    'Conscientious' Folks Face Lower Risk of Alzheimer's "Conscientious" people appear to be less likely to get Alzheimer's, researchers have found. Participants whose personality tests pegged them as extremely self-disciplined, goal-oriented and dependable were 89% less likely to get Alzheimer's than those at the opposite end of the diligence spectrum, according to a new study in the Archives of General Psychiatry. More »

Jackie Lustig, 52, left, comforts her mother Jeannette Zeltzer, 81, who suffers from Alzheimer's. A new study finds people with two parents suffering from Alzheimer's run a higher risk of developing the...   (Associated Press)
Jackie Lustig, 52, guides her mother Jeannette Zeltzer, 81, who suffers from Alzheimer's, down the hall at the assisted living facility where Zeltzer lives on Saturday, March 8, 2008 in Newton, Mass....   (Associated Press)
Jeannette Zeltzer, 81 and her new boyfriend Max Rakov, 92, hold hands while sitting on a couch at the assisted living facility where they live on Saturday, March 8, 2008 in Newton, Mass. Zeltzer recently...   (Associated Press)
prev    next
play

Threads (1 of 1)

Tags

genetics  • medical research  • parents  • dementia  • Alzheimer's  • scientific study  • health risks


Loading...

Loading...

Related Thread: Alzheimer's Disease

Next story from this section »

Today's Most Popular


Other Science & Health Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »