A prominent actor recently opened up on a program about both his parents suffering from Alzheimer’s disease (commonly known as “senile dementia”), expressing distress and worry that he might develop the condition later in life. This revelation has reignited public interest in a key question: Is Alzheimer’s hereditary?
“Approximately 5% to 10% of Alzheimer’s cases are hereditary and can be passed on to children,” Zhang Wei, director of the Cognitive Impairment Department at the Neurology Center of Beijing Tiantan Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University, told Science and Technology Daily. The medical community has identified multiple disease-causing and risk genes linked to Alzheimer’s. Disease-causing genes include the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene, presenilin 1 (PS1) gene, and presenilin 2 (PS2) gene. Over 95% of people carrying any of these genes will develop Alzheimer’s, typically at an early age—around 40 or 50, or even younger—and the condition is almost always inherited by the next generation. Risk genes such as APOE4 significantly increase the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s and may also be passed on to offspring.
Zhang further noted that beyond genetic and hereditary cases, the vast majority of Alzheimer’s instances are sporadic, caused by a combination of unhealthy lifestyles and environmental factors, and are not hereditary.
“If one or both parents have Alzheimer’s, it is advisable to undergo genetic testing at a formal medical institution,” Zhang emphasized. “If the disease is not gene-related, there is no need for excessive worry.” For hereditary cases caused by disease-causing genes, early diagnosis in children can be achieved through positron emission tomography (PET) scans and cerebrospinal fluid tests. Antibody drugs can then be used to clear amyloid protein—dubbed “brain waste”—effectively slowing disease progression.
Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system that primarily affects the elderly or pre-elderly. Symptoms include recent memory impairment, aphasia, apraxia, agnosia, and visuospatial dysfunction, along with impaired abstract thinking, calculation ability, and changes in personality, mental state, and behavior. According to the China Alzheimer’s Disease Report 2024, the incidence of Alzheimer’s exceeds 5% among people over 60 in China, and reaches as high as 30% among those over 85.
“The progression of Alzheimer’s is irreversible. Once diagnosed, existing medical methods can only slow deterioration, not cure or reverse the disease,” Zhang stated. In the early stages of mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia, medical professionals can use “pharmaceutical weapons” such as anti-amyloid antibodies and cholinesterase inhibitors, alongside non-pharmaceutical approaches like cognitive training, neuromodulation, and psychological intervention. However, in advanced severe dementia, no effective treatments exist, placing heavy caregiving and economic burdens on families and society. “Therefore, early prevention, diagnosis, and treatment are crucial,” she added.
On scientific prevention, the China Guidelines for Early Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease (2024) recommends that the elderly adopt a positive mindset, participate in social activities, engage in regular cognitive training, exercise, avoid smoking and excessive drinking, ensure quality sleep, prevent hypertension and diabetes, maintain a balanced diet, and use traditional Chinese medicine therapies and fitness exercises. Families also play a key role: children should spend more time with their parents, elderly couples should encourage each other to exercise and socialize, and children should parents to treat chronic diseases promptly.
“Alzheimer’s prevention does not start in old age but spans the entire life cycle,” Zhang stressed. “From adolescence or even earlier, one should develop good study habits, maintain enthusiasm for learning, practice handling complex tasks, and continuously build cognitive reserves in the ‘brain bank’ to effectively prevent neurodegeneration.”
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