Study of Over 60,000 Individuals Emphasizes Need for Early Detection in Alzheimer's Disease

A study of nearly 60,000 individuals published in eLife suggests those at higher risk of developing Alzheimer's because of family history may undergo changes in memory performance as soon as their 20s, reports Technology Networks . The data was compiled via an online word-pair memory test called MindCrowd. Subjects younger than 65 and with a family history of Alzheimer's performed less well than counterparts with no family history of Alzheimer's. The implication is that the family history effect is especially pronounced among men, and in those with lower educational attainment, diabetes, and who carry a common genetic change in the APOE gene. The study suggests this risk can be identified up to 40 years before the typical age of disease onset. Analysis of 59,571 MindCrowd participants aged 18 to 85 found the effect of family history was apparent across every age group, up until age 65. "This study supports recommendations underscoring the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and properly treating disease states such as diabetes," concluded the Translational Genomics Research Institute's Joshua S. Talboom.