Late Onset LOAD

Late onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD) is a completely different story. It is more like all the other complex diseases we’ve considered so far. Although 50 percent of people with an affected brother, sister, or parent can expect to get Alzheimer’s by the time they reach their eighties, this percentage is not that different from the general population. It is natural to worry about your own fate when caring for a loved one, but the fact is that genetic counselors can tell you little about whether you are going to have senile dementia. On the other hand, if both sides of your family are clear, it is a good bet that you will be okay; but then it is better to look at it as though you are lucky enough to have an unusually protective genetic constitution.