My grandmother developed Alzheimer’s at 84. My mother got it at 70. I am 40 and worried I am going to get it. Is there a test to know if I will develop it or not?

Jacqueline Marcell

There is a genetic test called ApoE genotyping, but even if you have inherited the gene, it doesn’t mean you will definitely develop Alzheimer’s Disease. Since your grandmother and mother developed AD later in life (not before age 60 which would be considered “early onset” and more likely to be hereditary), you don’t have that much of an increased risk of developing it.

Here’s how the statistics break down: 10% of people will get Alzheimer’s by age 65, 20% by the age of 75%, and nearly 50% by the age of 85. It is typically a disease of the elderly, and you are still very young at age 40. By the time you are at the most likely age to start developing it, better treatments and hopefully a cure will have been found. Medical Science is working feverishly, as there are 78 million Baby Boomers getting older.

The best thing you can do is to continue to educate yourself about the disease--and then do everything in your power to stay healthy and reduce the chance of developing any disease. Also learn new things to strengthen your brain--and then relax about it and live and enjoy your life now.

Jacqueline Marcell is a former television executive who was so compelled by caring for her elderly parents (both with early Alzheimer’s not diagnosed for over a year) she wrote “Elder Rage”, a Book-of-the-Month Club selection being considered for a film. She is also an International speaker on eldercare and host of the popular Internet radio program “Coping With Caregiving.” To learn more about Jacqueline see: www.ElderRage.com.