11 Genetic Diseases You Can Easily Get Tested For
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3. Alzheimer’s diseaseÂ
Alzheimer’s is a disease that causes memory loss and cognitive problems and it can interfere with daily life. It is also the most common cause of dementia and it usually starts showing symptoms after the age of 65.
Alzheimer’s can be hereditary, meaning that, if a close relative (like a parent) has it you are at risk of developing it too. But it can also be influenced by certain genes. Studies have shown that the APOE-e4 gene is the one that has the strongest impact on the risk of developing the disease.
We all have a copy of the APOE gene from one parent, but those who inherit APOE-e4 are genetically prone to having Alzheimer’s. Having this gene can also lead to the early development of the disease, meaning before the age of 65.
