Is Alzheimer’s inherited from the mother or father? Study reveals surprising theory
A lot of our bodily characteristics and abilities come from our parents’ and ancestors’ genes. Even body conditions or diseases can be hereditary and come from the family line. A study published in JAMA Neurology revealed that parental history can have a great impact on adults and in determining how susceptible they are to Alzheimer’s. However, a surprising theory has been revealed as to whether the chronic disease comes from the father’s side or the mother’s side, per Forbes. Alzheimer’s is a cognitive condition where the health of the brain deteriorates, affecting memory and other aspects.
It is not compulsory that a person who has a family history of Alzheimer’s might be prone to the disease. However, which parent has it can greatly affect the diagnosis. The study called over 4,000 cognitively normal adults between the ages of 65 and 85 to share the cognitive history of their parents. They were specifically asked if either or both parents developed Alzheimer’s or forms of dementia and at what age they showed signs. Those who had parents with cognitive or memory impairment were further studied to understand their mental capacities.
It was noted that individuals whose mothers had Alzheimer's showed an increased beta-amyloid plaque accumulation in the brain, a “hallmark” of Alzheimer’s disease. On the other hand, those whose fathers had Alzheimer’s didn’t show as much an effect. It was only people whose paternal side had early onset Alzheimer's that showed an increase in the effect. Mothers who were reported to have the chronic condition after the age of 65 showed that their kids, too, are likely to develop late-onset symptoms. The reason behind this eye-opening discovery is still being explored by experts. However, a basic reason behind the results is the X chromosome given by the mother to the child.
Both parents contribute an equal amount of chromosomes to the child. Out of these, one is a sex chromosome. While mothers have both X chromosomes, fathers have an X and Y chromosome. Females thus pass down the X chromosome while males pass down either, determining the sex of the child. However, researchers pointed out that the mom’s X chromosome is more “vulnerable to epigenetic changes.” The latter refers to the ability to make changes or modifications to the DNA code, per Medline Plus. It can turn a gene off and is likely the case of females.
Inheriting an X chromosome each from the mother and father, it is noted that the father’s is likely to be inactivated or secondary, having little to no impact on the child. The mother’s dominant X chromosome is what supposedly has a connection to the possibility of Alzheimer's. However, this connection is still to be verified and studied in depth. The results obtained from the study so far can serve as a mild caveat and help individuals understand the possibility of developing the disease in their later years. It can also help focus on parental history and determine health and other factors from a young age. It can also help caution medics about health factors, be on the lookout for symptoms and even identify high-risk individuals.