November generally makes us think of changing seasons and time with loved ones. How fitting than that November is also National Alzheimer’s Month, a time for us to celebrate and pay tribute to those in our lives effected by Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Alzheimer’s disease is a tragic neurological condition that affects many of our family members, friends, parents and grandparents. An estimated five million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. For every individual with Alzheimer’s, an entire community works to support them in their daily lives.
Alzheimer’s disease is marked by loss of memory, speech, judgment, sense of direction and other brain functions. While currently no cure exists, three risk factors play an important role in your susceptibility.
The first is age: Alzheimer’s onset is generally after the age of 65, and by age 80 the risk for developing Alzheimer’s is nearly 50 percent.
The second is family history. Having close biological relatives with Alzheimer’s increases your risk. The last factor is genetic makeup. One gene strongly associated with Alzheimer’s disease is APOE. This gene comes in three variants, and one of these variants, APOE4, is linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s. Currently, the Navigenics Health Compass genetic testing service can measure your genetic risk for Alzheimer’s by detecting whether you carry any copies of APOE4, and if so, how many.
Knowing your risk for Alzheimer’s and taking preventative measures can help you reduce your risks. Several important medical studies, for example, have shown that improved weight management and physical fitness reduce Alzheimer’s risk, including recent research that links stronger muscles to reduced risk of Alzheimer’s. Should you choose to enroll in the Navigenics service, our Genetic Counselors can help you interpret your risk and work with you and your doctor to create a risk reduction plan that works for you.