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American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias logoLink to American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
. 2007 Feb-Mar;22(1):37–41. doi: 10.1177/1533317506295655

The Genetics of Alzheimer’s Disease

Chen K Chai 1
PMCID: PMC10697204  PMID: 17534000

Abstract

The genetics of Alzheimer’s disease is produced by 3 essentially interactive gene groups: (1) APP and presenilin 1 and 2; (2) APOE E2, E3, and E4; (3) genes on chromosomes 9, 10, 12, etc. If any gene in (1) mutates, beta amyloid (Aβ) increases sharply beyond what the genes of (3) can remove, with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease the result. With retention of Aβ by E4 in (2), Alzheimer’s disease might result even though (1) and (3) are normal. If any gene in (3) mutates, the level of Aβ will rise, but because many genes are involved in Aβ removal, late-onset Alzheimer’s disease would be detected only eventually.

Keywords: interaction, gene activity, gene groups, physiologic balance, normal state vs mutation

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