Alzheimer's Disease

Frequently Asked Questions

7. If a family member has Alzheimer's disease, will I get it, too?

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Just because a family member has Alzheimer's disease does not mean that you will get it, too. There is a rare form of Alzheimer's disease, called early-onset familial Alzheimer's, which is inherited. It occurs in people between the ages of 30 and 60 and is caused by mutations, or changes, in certain genes. Most cases of Alzheimer's are late-onset. They occur after age 60 and usually have no obvious family pattern. However, genetic factors appear to increase a person's risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer's.