My Dad has Alzheimer's will I have that too?

This is the worry of children who's parents had AD. To make this clear and specific doctors and researchers have categorized Alzheimer's into three types :

* EARLY-ONSET DEMENTIA : Less than 10 percent of all AD patients have this type. These  are individuals diagnosed with the disease before age 65. Adults with Down Syndrome are at risk and often the symptoms appear in their mid to late 40s or early 50s.

* LATE-ONSET DEMENTIA : This is the most common form of AD. It occurs after age 65. It strikes almost half of all people over the age of 85. This might or might not be hereditary. Late-onset dementia is also called SPORADIC  Alzheimer's Disease.

* FAMILIAL ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE : This is entirely inherited. Families of at least 2 generations can be documented to have AD. But this is extremely rare. It is less than 1 percent of all cases of AD.

Since the most common AD is late-onset dementia it doesn't mean that if one member of the family has AD you will have the disease too. Just keep your brain cells healthy and optimized thru  proper nutritions and exercises. Keep your brain stimulated.

I often wonder if my great grandmother had AD. She was placed in a nursing home after a severe stroke, she refused any type of rehabilitation. She was placed at the nursing home while my mother was pregnant with me. We visited her often and she passed away in the late 80's (I was around 10 or so when she passed if I recall correctly... it has been a while now and I was very young, it was after 1987 though I remember that much). Towards the end she would not recognize me had trouble recognizing my mom but did after a short time. The nursing home she was in wasnt great the aroma of urine would smack you in the face as soon as the doors opened. She would sit in her own urine for at least an hour at times.

It is hard to say if she has AD since there was history of strokes whether she had more that we were unaware of or if it was AD we will never know. This would help to know being that my grandma is now in a nursing home with AD.

Dragon....your gradma can have neuological testing done and assessed for AD while in the NH
If it were I I would demand it .....but thats me
I wish you all the best friend and continue to post plz .......
This is not really deemed hereditary so like was posted keep your brain cells stimulated and you will do okay I know you will

LUVS
LYN

Some people can have VaD & Alzheimer's.