Early-onset Alzheimer's Disease (early-onset + alzheimer's_disease)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Early-onset Alzheimer's disease with presenilin-1 M139V mutation: clinical, neuropsychological and neuropathological study

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 3 2003
A. J. Larner
The clinical, neuropsychological and neuropathological features of a patient with early-onset Alzheimer's disease as a result of the M139V presenilin-1 (PSEN-1) mutation are presented, and compared with previous reports of patients with the same mutation. Similarities, such as the age at onset and the relative preservation of naming skills, and differences, such as the significant basal ganglia, thalamic and cerebellar pathology, are noted. This clinical and pathological heterogeneity in patients with the same PSEN-1 mutation suggests phenotype modulation by genetic and/or epigenetic factors. [source]


Heritability of plasma amyloid , in typical late-onset Alzheimer's disease pedigrees

GENETIC EPIDEMIOLOGY, Issue 1 2001
Nilufer Ertekin-Taner
Abstract Plasma amyloid ,42 peptide (A,42) levels are significantly elevated in all genetic forms of early-onset Alzheimer's disease caused by familial Alzheimer's disease mutations or Down's syndrome. Moreover, recent studies have determined that both plasma A,42 and A,40 levels are significantly elevated in late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) patients, their cognitively normal first-degree relatives, and members of typical LOAD families when compared to appropriate controls. To determine the magnitude of the genetic component affecting plasma A, levels, we estimated the heritability of plasma A,42 and A,40 in 15 extended, multigenerational LOAD pedigrees, using a variance components method. Heritability estimates as high as 73 and 54% were found for plasma A,42 and A,40 levels, respectively. Inclusion of the ApoE ,4 dosage as a covariate was not found to have a significant effect on the heritability of these traits. These results suggest that genetic determinants other than ApoE account for a very substantial percentage of the phenotypic variance in plasma A, levels. The high heritability and the significant elevation of these traits in LOAD pedigrees suggest that at least some of the genetic determinants of plasma A, levels may lead to elevated A, and LOAD in these families. Thus, we suggest that plasma A, levels are quantitative traits that may be excellent surrogate markers for use in linkage analysis to identify loci that are important in typical LOAD. Genet. Epidemiol. 21:19,30, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Gender difference and caregivers' burden in early-onset Alzheimer's disease

PSYCHOGERIATRICS, Issue 3 2005
Maki TAKANO
Abstract Background: Caregiver burden is the stress experienced as a result of caregiving. Despite the increasing number of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients who are cared for at home, little has been published about the caregiver burden pertaining to caregivers of early-onset AD patients. The objective of this study was to examine the difference between the genders with respect to the careburden of early-onset AD caregivers. Methods: Twenty-four patients with early-onset AD and their caregivers participated in this study. Dementia severity, caregiver's burden, depressive mood and behavioral disturbance were measured and examined. Results: There was no significant difference between female and male caregivers in terms of careburden or depressive mood. However, when correlations were considered, female caregivers showed significant associations between careburden and the patient's age. Associations between the subscales of careburden were also shown for female caregivers. However. there was no significant correlation between the subscales of careburden and dementia severity and the number of behavioral problems for either female or male caregivers. Depression scores showed only correlations with the subscales of careburden for female caregivers. Conclusion: The present study examined the difference between the genders with respect to the care burden experienced by caregivers of early-onset AD patients. The results reinforce those of previous studies in that female caregivers are more likely to experience careburden than male caregivers. The present study indicates the importance of mental health support for female caregivers. [source]