Alzheimer Disease, Type 2

What is Alzheimer disease, type 2?

Alzheimer disease, type 2 is a late-onset, familial form of Alzheimer disease. This degenerative disease of the brain causes gradual loss of memory, judgment, and ability to function.

Alzheimer disease, type 2 is a subtype of Alzheimer disease.

Alzheimer disease, type 2 is characterised by progressive brain deterioration after age 65, leading to a gradual loss of memory, reasoning, and ability to perform social and personal care functions. Please see the Alzheimer disease summary for further information about the signs and symptoms of this disorder.

How common is Alzheimer disease, type 2?

About 25 percent of all people with Alzheimer disease have a familial form of the disorder. Most of these cases are late-onset (Alzheimer disease, type 2). The other 75 percent of cases are classified as sporadic. These cases are virtually all late-onset and their cause remains unknown.

What genes are related to Alzheimer disease, type 2?

Variations of the APOE gene increase the risk of developing Alzheimer disease, type 2.

This condition is probably caused by mutations in a gene or genes that have not yet been identified. Researchers, however, have found that a gene called apolipoprotein E (APOE) can affect a person's risk of developing type 2 Alzheimer disease. In particular, a form of the APOE gene called the epsilon 4 (or e4) allele has been shown to increase the chances of developing the disease.

How do people inherit Alzheimer disease, type 2?

People with the APOE e4 allele inherit an increased risk of Alzheimer disease, not the disease itself. Not all people with Alzheimer disease have the e4 allele, and not all people who have the e4 allele will develop Alzheimer disease. People who inherit one copy of the APOE e4 allele are at increased risk, while people who inherit two copies of APOE e4 have an even greater chance of developing the disease.

What other names do people use for Alzheimer disease, type 2?

  • AD2
  • Alzheimer disease 2
  • Late Onset Alzheimer Disease
  • Late-Onset Familial Alzheimer Disease (AD2)
  • Senile Dementia

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