Your dad could reveal whether you’re at greater risk of dementia, in surprising study find
YOUR dad could hold clues as to whether or not you’ll develop dementia, according to a “surprising” study finding.
Family history is a crucial factor in identifying the risk of many diseases, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.
Most types of dementia aren’t passed down through the family, says the Alzheimer’s Society.
But research, published in the journal Neurology did find a familial link – people who have a dad with Alzheimer’s disease may also be at greater risk of dementia.
Previous studies have suggested that having a mother with Alzheimer’s may put you more at risk of developing the disease.
The new study found having a father with the neurodegenerative disease may be tied to a greater spread of the tau protein in the brain that is a warning sign of Alzheimer’s.
It was also found that female participants may be more at risk of a heavier build-up of tau protein than male participants.
Study author Dr Sylvia Villeneuve, of McGill University, Canada, said: “We were surprised to see that people with a father with Alzheimer’s were more vulnerable to the spread of tau in the brain, as we had hypothesised that we would see more brain changes in people with affected mothers.”
The study looked at 243 people who had a family history of Alzheimer’s disease, but had no thinking or memory problems themselves at an average age of 68.
Family history was defined as one or both parents with the disease or at least two siblings with the disease.
Participants had brain scans and took tests of thinking and memory skills at the outset and then during the study period as they were followed for an average of nearly seven years.
During that time, 71 people developed mild cognitive impairment, which is a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease.
The research team found that people with a father with Alzheimer’s disease as well as female participants had a greater spread of tau protein in the brain.
Female participants also had a heavier build-up of tau protein in the brain.
Dr Villeneuve added: “Better understanding these vulnerabilities could help us design personalised interventions to help protect against Alzheimer’s disease.”
The Alzheimer’s Society says the most important risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease is age.
Because Alzheimer’s disease is so common in people in their late 70s and 80s, having a parent or grandparent with Alzheimer’s disease at this age doesn’t change your risk compared to the rest of the population.
But the charity added: “If somebody has developed Alzheimer’s disease at an earlier age (for example, less than 60 years-old) there is a greater chance that it may be a type of Alzheimer’s disease that can be passed on.”
Is it ageing or dementia?
Dementia – the most common form of which is Alzheimer’s – comes on slowly over time.
As the disease progresses, symptoms can become more severe.
But at the beginning, the symptoms can be subtle or mistaken for normal memory issues related to ageing.
The US National Institute on Aging gives some examples of what is considered normal forgetfulness in old age, and dementia disease.
You can refer to these above.
For example, it is normal for an ageing person to forget which word to use from time-to-time, but difficulting having conversation would be more indicative of dementia.
Katie Puckering, Head of Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Information Services team, previously told The Sun: “We quite commonly as humans put our car keys somewhere out of the ordinary and it takes longer for us to find them.
“As you get older, it takes longer for you to recall, or you really have to think; What was I doing? Where was I? What distracted me? Was it that I had to let the dog out? And then you find the keys by the back door.
“That process of retrieving the information is just a bit slower in people as they age.
“In dementia, someone may not be able to recall that information and what they did when they came into the house.
“What may also happen is they might put it somewhere it really doesn’t belong. For example, rather than putting the milk back in the fridge, they put the kettle in the fridge.”