Answers From a Genetic Counselor

Simply put, while early-onset Alzheimer’s is not the norm, you can develop the disease in early or middle adulthood.

Lisa Kinsley, MS, CGC, is a genetic counselor in the Neurogenetics Program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. She says that there is not too early of an age to develop Alzheimer’s disease. However, she notes that there is a timeframe when early cases of the disease might occur.

“Most people who have early-onset Alzheimer’s disease tend to develop it between ages 30 and 60,” she explains, noting that the classification of early-onset Alzheimer’s varies across practices and diagnoses. So, while there is no guarantee that someone under the age of 30 will not have the disease, almost all early-onset cases occur between 30 to 60.

Understanding Genetics

Genetics can play a role in Alzheimer’s disease. If you have a parent or sibling with the disease, you have a higher risk of developing it.

But, genetic risk factors are not a guarantee that you will get the disease, Kinsley says. She encourages you to think of the risk as if it were a jar of marbles.

“There are genetic marbles, environmental marbles and behavioral marbles that all represent risk factors,” she says. “Some people are at a higher risk than others depending on how full their jar already is with genetic marbles.”

It may help to think of risk factors as cumulative. The more risk factors you have, the higher your risk of the disease. But for most individuals, you are not destined to get Alzheimer’s simply because of a certain gene or set of genes.

Taking Precautions

If you know of a relative – deceased or living – with Alzheimer’s disease, explore your family health. This can help you understand your risks.

“Meeting with a genetic counselor to discuss your family’s specific situation is critical,” Kinsley says. “There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. It all depends on the people in the family and what your stories are.”