title: The genetics of Alzheimer disease.
abstract: Family history is the second strongest risk factor for Alzheimer disease (AD) following advanced age. Twin and family studies indicate that genetic factors are estimated to play a role in at least 80% of AD cases. The inheritance of AD exhibits a dichotomous pattern. On one hand, rare mutations in APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2 virtually guarantee early-onset (<60 years) familial AD, which represents ∼5% of AD. On the other hand, common gene polymorphisms, such as the ε4 and ε2 variants of the APOE gene, can influence susceptibility for ∼50% of the common late-onset AD. These four genes account for 30%-50% of the inheritability of AD. Genome-wide association studies have recently led to the identification of 11 additional AD candidate genes. This paper reviews the past, present, and future attempts to elucidate the complex and heterogeneous genetic underpinnings of AD.
authors.affiliation: Genetics and Aging Research Unit, Department of Neurology, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02129, USA. tanzi@helix.mgh.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Rudolph E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Tanzi
mesh_terms: D051722:ADAM Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D000072197:ADAM10 Protein; D017668:Age of Onset; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / Q000235:genetics; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D051722:ADAM Proteins; D000072197:ADAM10 Protein; C491236:ADAM10 protein, human