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Early Onset Alzheimer's

© Karen Largent

Early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease is found in persons who are under the age of 65. It has become a "hot" topic for researchers in recent years. It is difficult to explain early AD, or FAD (Familial Alzheimer's Disease), because it is possibly genetic in nature. I am not a geneticist, nor am I a researcher, but I will try to present this information as clearly as I can for you.

Early-onset familial Alzheimer's is believed to be caused by a genetic chromosomal mutation. Scientists have isolated three different genetic defects on chromosomes 1, 14, and 21. Researchers have successfully cloned chromosome 14 in an effort to better understand the defect. Genetic defects cause problems such as Down's syndrome and mental retardation, and now it may be possible that Alzheimer's has a genetic cause.

Another researcher has found that people with a certain form of a gene known as HLA get Alzheimer's much earlier than those without the gene. HLA-2A is also implicated in early AD as well as the APOE4 gene.

An abstract from the Archives of General Psychiatry published in 1988 reported that an increased platelet membrane fluidity is a family marker that identifies a prominent subgroup of patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Patients in this subgroup show distinct clinical features, including an early age at symptomatic onset and a rapidly progressive course.

Estimates have placed the number of early Alzheimer's victims who are in their 40's and 50's at somewhere between 1% and 10% of the population. That means anywhere from 40,000 to 400,000 American sufferers are much younger than those who are normally diagnosed in their 60's, 70's and 80's.

All of this complicated, scientific information does not help those who suffer with early-onset Alzheimer's. The new drugs being used are helpful but, as with any disease, a cure would be the best possible outcome.

Diana Friel McGowin is the author of Living in the Labyrinth, the bestselling book about the author's struggle to deal with early onset Alzheimer's disease. She formed the first in person early AD support group and also the first online early AD support chat on AOL. Diana encourages online friends to do their own online homepages such as this homepage to share their stories of living with early-onset AD.

The Hoffman Family maintains a web page of e-mail addresses and information about early Alzheimer's/dementia victims and information to subscribing to online discussion groups.

The American Geriatrics Society, in its patient education forum, presents some information in case you are wondering if you yourself may have early onset Alzheimer's. The article titled Memory Loss - Should I be concerned? by Margaret Winker, M.D., presents good information about memory loss and it's possible causes.

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