Research news: Kids of afflicted parents face risk of Alzheimer's

The News:
Kids of afflicted parents face risk of Alzheimer's
A study shows children are more likely to end up with Alzheimer's if both parents suffered from the disease.
By Carla K. JohnsonThe Associated Press
Article Last Updated: 03/11/2008 06:20:00 AM MDT
CHICAGO — One parent with Alzheimer's disease is tough enough, but imagine the memory-robbing illness striking both parents — and knowing chances are high you'll get it too. A study of more than 100 families for the first time gauges the size of that risk.
"I'm scared," said Jackie Lustig, 52, of Sudbury, Mass., whose father died of Alzheimer's and whose mother is living it. "I'm hoping to heck that the pharmaceutical companies come up with something better than there is now. It's not a nice way to go."
The study, appearing in March's Archives of Neurology, found more than 22 percent of the adult children of 111 couples with Alz heimer's had the disease themselves. Risk grew with age. Among offspring older than 60, more than 30 percent were affected. In those older than 70, nearly 42 percent had the disease.
Prior studies have found a 6 to 13 percent prevalence of the disease in the U.S. population older than 65.
At age 62, Gayle Dorman worries every time she misplaces her car keys. "Is this the day I'm going to start losing it?" she wonders. more...

The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the journal Archives of Neurology.