The Genetic Defect Causing Familial Alzheimer's Disease Maps on Chromosome 21

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among the elderly. Several families have been described in which Alzheimer's disease is caused by an autosomal dominant gene defect. The chromosomal location of this defective gene has been discovered by using genetic linkage to DNA markers on chromosome 21. The localization on chromosome 21 provides an explanation for the occurrence of Alzheimer's disease-like pathology in Down syndrome. Isolation and characterization of the gene at this locus may yield new insights into the nature of the defect causing familial Alzheimer's disease and possibly, into the etiology of all forms of Alzheimer's disease.

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Affiliated Institutions

• Klinikum Lippe DE
• Massachusetts General Hospital US
• Harvard University US
• Indiana University School of Medicine
• Sequenom (United States) US
• Inserm FR
• University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School US
• Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis US
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke US
• Regione Calabria
• Boston University US
• University of Florence IT
• École Pratique des Hautes Études FR
• Institut National de la Transfusion Sanguine FR

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