Are there different genes associated with different types of dementia?

FEATURED ANSWER(S)

By Dr. Nathaniel Chin Dr. Nathaniel Chin is the Director of Medical Services at the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. More...

" Yes, there are. ApoE is specific to Alzheimer’s disease because of ApoE’s association with the amyloid protein. The amyloid protein is the one that is abnormal in the brain that eventually leads to further changes and what we would describe as Alzheimer’s. There are other genes related to Parkinson’s disease and Parkinson’s can cause dementia later on in life, as well as Lewy body dementia. Then there’s frontotemporal dementia, and there are some genetic associations. These are not as strong as ApoE is to Alzheimer’s, but these are still being actively investigated as well. "

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One thought on “Are there different genes associated with different types of dementia?”

Tensil Clayton says:

April 10, 2023 at 11:23 am

My husband has Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus which he developed at age 72. He has dementia in a moderate stage. He does not have a shunt in his brain because after the spinal tap his walking or memory did not improve. Is there research on Alzheimer’s & Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus?

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