20. "Genetics Of Alzheimer's Disease"

Summary: This study sheds light on the idea that Down's Syndrome, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease may have related neuropathical changes.

Key Facts:
"While there are many studies establishing the validity and reliability of clinical assessment in the distinction between Alzheimer's disease and other causes of prehensile dementia."
"This is particularly relevant to the problem presented by patients over the age of 60 when Alzheimer's neuropathological changes may be present without clinical evidence of a dementia."
"Universal development of Alzheimer's neruopathological changes in Down's syndrome and erroneously links this with a report of six cases of Down's syndrome among the 777 relatives of 30 patients with AD."
"When chromosomal abnormalities have been directy observes in AD they are indistinguishabble from those seen with aging and are not specific for AD or related to any abnormality or chromosome 21."

Whalley, L. "Genetics Of Alzheimer's Disease." JSTOR. British Medical Journal, 22 May
1982. Web. 29 Jan. 2015. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/29506546>.

9. "Researchers Hunt for Alzheimer's Disease Gene"

Summary: Kolata discusses studies attempting to find the gene that causes Alzheimer's and whether or not this is the reason behind the common genetic relation. Some conflicting information says that if this was fully genetic, there would be more people contracting the disease. However it is believed that are different classifications of the types of AD. For example, there are classical signs versus non-classical signs. Classical signs are more severe but both cases would be considered AD. Perhaps the difference is owed to different genes.

Key Facts:
"Some doctors speculate that Alzheimer's is caused by environmental factors or infectious agents such as slow viruses."
"Nevertheless, researches agree that Alzheimer's can be inherited."
"Eleven percent of the population over age 85 has Alzheimer's."
"Again, they found that the classical Alzheimer's cases were in the majority and that the disease sees to be inherited in these patients as though it were caused by a dominant gene."
"They do not question that some cases of Alzheimer's are inherited, but do question whether the vast majority are."
"If a gene is found, it will most likely lead to a fundamental understanding of what causes the disease."

Kolata, Gina. "Researchers Hunt for Alzheimer's Disease Gene." JSTOR. American
Association for the Advancement of Science, 26 Apr. 1986. Web. 31 Jan. 2015. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/1696410>.