Heston L L, Morris M L
Can J Neurol Sci. 1986 Nov;13(4 Suppl):432-4. doi: 10.1017/s0317167100037069.
Studies of families located through a proband with dementia of the Alzheimer type have demonstrated transmission of the disorder within families, probably through shared genes. Increasing closeness of genetic relationship and increasing severity of illness are both associated with increasing risk to relatives. Families at high risk are especially valuable for studies of the biology of dementing illness including, in particular, their molecular genetics. Associations at several levels between Down's syndrome and Alzheimer's dementia provide important clues for molecular hypotheses.
通过患有阿尔茨海默型痴呆的先证者找到相关家族进行的研究表明，这种疾病可能通过共享基因在家族中传递。遗传关系越近以及病情越严重，亲属患病风险就越高。高危家族对于痴呆症生物学研究，尤其是其分子遗传学研究，具有特别重要的价值。唐氏综合征与阿尔茨海默病痴呆在多个层面的关联为分子假说提供了重要线索。
