New insights into genetic aspects of Alzheimer's disease

PREVIEW

Given recent developments in the genetics of Alzheimer's disease and the intense anxiety about and public interest in this disorder, the pressure is on to develop strategies for predicting onset, detecting the disorder early, and improving accuracy of diagnosis. Although we have learned a great deal about the inheritance patterns of Alzheimer's disease and have identified several genes involved in the disorder, the contributions of that knowledge to clinical practice remain limited. In this article, Dr Blacker reviews the genetics of Alzheimer's disease and discusses potential tests, their role in diagnosis, early detection, and prediction of disease, and current recommendations for use.