Is Alzheimer’s Inherited?

Much research is still being done on this subject

According to the Alzheimer’s Association it is a risk factor to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s if your mother, father, sibling or child has the disease.

They add– “It is not certain, though, whether the risk comes from the environment or genetics. There does appear to be a higher risk if other family members have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or Dementia.”

Research is being done to find what the exact answer to that question is. Yet, there is no definitive answer at this time. With the baby-boomers nearing their 60’s and 70’s Alzheimer’s will become a higher risk for many more folks in the near future.

My grandmother passed away with Alzheimer’s decades ago before the disease was understood or well known by most folks. My mom had symptoms for a decade before our family suspected her memory lapses were more than old age.  I recognized those same symptoms in myself, much sooner than I had seen Mom’s. I have COPD which can lead to dementia due to low oxygen levels periodically.  But I’m fairly certain that mine is a generational thing from my mother’s side.

Since there is no cure, there is no medication nor surgery that can change things. Yet, there are factors that are under our own control. We can have a long and happy life by maintaining an overall good health regimen: keep a healthy diet with lots of fruit and vegetables, keep the body healthy with lots of exercise such as walking, keep the brain active with reading, games and quizzes, keep a  well rounded life including an active social life with friends and family.

It is commonly known that all these things may delay the onset of Alzheimer’s as well as extend life for those with other illnesses.

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