Inherited Risk for Alzheimer's Disease ('AD Gene-Gene Panel')
Inherited Risk for Alzheimer's Disease
Your level of inherited risk is reported either very low, low, moderate or high, and compared to the level of risk in the population. Mutations in the APP, PSEN1 or PSEN2 genes are not identified. The test was developed to assess predisposition in white persons of European ancestry.
This is not a diagnostic test and does not indicate the presence or absence of Alzheimer's Disease. A risk score is not an absolute indicator that a person will or will not develop AD.
Genes in cholesterol metabolism and inflammation, including APOE, identify a level of risk from very low to high
One in five women and one in 10 men develops Alzheimer's disease by age 85; it is caused by many factors, both inherited and related to lifestyle.
Our overall assessment of inherited risk for Alzheimer's disease evaluates nine genes involved in cholesterol metabolism and inflammation. This body of information enables persons to be categorized as at very low, low, moderate or high risk based on the presence and interaction of those genes. Click here for detailed information.
The percentage of the population at each risk level is shown in Figure 1, and indicates that most people are at very low or low risk. Your personal genetic assessment will be compared to the general population to determine your level of risk for Alzheimer's disease. For example, you might be at low risk with 47% of the population having lower risk and 53% having higher risk.
Figure 1. Alzheimer's risk in the population
This test defines a wide range of inherited predisposition to Alzheimer's disease. No claim is made that all relevant genes are tested. Further, a low level of inherited predisposition does not guarantee that you will not develop Alzheimer's disease, nor does a high level of predisposition guarantee that you will develop Alzheimer's disease with certainty. We hope that you share this information with your physician, who is welcome to contact us.
Alzheimer's Disease Links
- Alzheimer's Association The leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research providing information about prevention options, diagnosis and treatment.
- National Institute of Health Alzheimer's Homepage Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center Web site will help you find current, comprehensive Alzheimer's disease information.
- Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Comprehensive overview; covers symptoms, causes, and treatment.
- The Genetic Alliance The world's leading nonprofit health advocacy organization committed to transforming health through genetics.
- HealingWell.com Community, information & resources on Alzheimer's disease.
- Axona A medical food to improve glucose metabolism in the brain.