Having a father with Alzheimer’s may increase dementia risk: study

By Stephen Beech

People who have a father with Alzheimer’s disease may also be at greater risk of dementia, according to new research.

Previous studies have suggested that having a mother with Alzheimer’s may put you more at risk of developing the disease.

But the new study found that 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.

The research, published in the journal Neurology, also showed 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 in 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 hypothesized 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 personalized interventions to help protect against Alzheimer’s disease."