According to the Report of Alzheimer's Disease in China 2024, the incidence rate of Alzheimer's disease among the elderly over 60 years old in China is more than 5%, and among the elderly over 85 years old, it is as high as 30%. Some people's parents suffer from Alzheimer's disease, and while feeling heartbroken, they also worry that they will also suffer from the disease in the future. So, can Alzheimer's disease be inherited? 5% -10% of Alzheimer's disease will be passed on to children through genetics. ”Zhang Wei, director of the Department of Cognitive Impairment at Beijing Temple of Heaven Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University, said in an interview with reporters that the medical community has discovered multiple pathogenic and risk genes that are clearly related to Alzheimer's disease. Among them, pathogenic genes include amyloid precursor protein (APP), presenilin 1 (PS1), and presenilin 2 (PS2). Among the population carrying any of the above pathogenic genes, more than 95% will develop Alzheimer's disease, and the onset is usually characterized by "early onset", which can occur at the age of forty or fifty or even earlier. The probability of inheriting such pathogenic genes to the next generation is extremely high. Unlike pathogenic genes, the risk gene apolipoprotein E ε 4 (such as APOE ε 4 gene) increases the risk of disease. If carrying risk genes, it will significantly increase the probability of developing Alzheimer's disease, but the probability of passing it on to the next generation is relatively low. If one or both parents suffer from this disease, it is recommended to take them to a formal medical institution for genetic testing first. If they do not carry pathogenic or risk genes, their children do not need to worry excessively. ”Zhang Wei emphasized that if parents' Alzheimer's disease is caused by pathogenic genes and has heritability, their children can be tested through positron emission tomography (PET), cerebrospinal fluid testing, and other methods to achieve early diagnosis and timely use of antibody drugs to clear beta amyloid protein in the brain, effectively delaying disease progression. In addition to early diagnosis and treatment, early prevention is also crucial. The prevention of Alzheimer's disease does not start in old age, but runs through the entire life cycle. Starting from youth or even earlier adolescence, it is necessary to develop good study habits, maintain sufficient learning enthusiasm, exercise the ability to handle complex things, and continuously increase cognitive reserves for the 'brain bank', so as to effectively prevent degenerative changes in the nervous system, "Zhang Wei emphasized. (New Society)