Resources

Please download our white paper, Introduction to AD and APOE, for an introduction to the genetics of Late-Onset AD, APOE and the role of genetic counselors.

Introduction to AD and APOE

Excerpt from Introduction to AD and APOE

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder of the brain that is progressive, irreversible and typically characterized by development of abnormal memory loss, along with deterioration of other higher cognitive abilities, including language, judgment, and perception. Behavioral and psychiatric manifestations can also occur during the disease's course.

AD is the most common form of dementia accounting for approximately 70% of all adult cases in industrialized countries. It is estimated that 5 million people in the U.S. are affected by AD and that by 2050 of this century as many as 14 million could also be affected.

Additional Resources and Publications

MIRAGE Publications

• Cupples LA, Farrer LA, Sadovnick, AD, Relkin N, Whitehouse P, Green RC. Estimating risk curves for first-degree relatives of patients with Alzheimer’s disease: the REVEAL Study. Genetics in Medicine 2004; 6:192-196.
• Kennedy JL, Farrer LA, Andreasen NC, Mayeux R, St. George-Hyslop. The genetics of common adult-set neuropsychiatric disease: complexities and conundra? Science 2003; 302: 822-826.
• Guo Z, Cupples LA, Kurz A, Auerbach SH, Volicer L, Chui H, Green RC, et al: Head injury and the risk of Alzheimer disease in the MIRAGE study. Neurology 54:1316-1323, 2000

REVEAL Publications

• Chao, S., Robert, J.S., Marteau, T.M., Silliman, R., Cupples, L.A., Green, RC. Health Behavior Changes after Genetic Risk Assessment for Alzheimer's Disease: The REVEAL Study. Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders, in press
• Gooding HC, Linnenbringer E, Burack J, Roberts JS, Green RC, Biesecker BB. (2006) Desire for genetic susceptibility testing for Alzheimer disease: Perceived threat and the need for information and control in the REVEAL Study. Patient Education & Counseling 64:259-267
• Roberts JS, Cupples LA, Relkin NR, Whitehouse PJ, & Green, R. C. (2005). Genetic risk assessment for adult children of people with Alzheimer’s disease: The Risk Evaluation and Education for AD (REVEAL) Study. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry & Neurology, 18, 250-55.
• Hurley A, Harvey R, Roberts JS, Wilson-Chase C, Lloyd S, Prest J, Lock M, Horvath KJ., & Green RC. (2005). Genetic susceptibility for Alzheimer's disease: Why did adult offspring seek testing? American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias, 20(6), 374-81.

Published Statements and Policies Regarding Genetic Testing

• American College of Medical Genetics/American Society of Human Genetics Working Group on ApoE and Alzheimer's disease (1995) Statement on use of apolipoprotein E testing for Alzheimer's disease.
• American Society of Human Genetics and American College of Medical Genetics (1995) Points to consider: ethical, legal, and psychosocial implications of genetic testing in children and adolescents
• National Institute on Aging/Alzheimer's Association Working Group (1996) Apolipoprotein E genotyping in Alzheimer's disease. Lancet 347:1091-5
• Post SG, Whitehouse PJ, Binstock RH, Bird TD, Eckert SK, Farrer LA, Fleck LM, Gaines AD, Juengst ET, Karlinsky H, Miles S, Murray TH, Quaid KA, Relkin NR, Roses AD, St George-Hyslop PH, Sachs GA, Steinbock B, Truschke EF, Zinn AB (1997) The clinical introduction of genetic testing for Alzheimer's disease: an ethical perspective. JAMA 277:832-6
• REVEAL