What is Familial Alzheimer’s Disease (FAD)?
Familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) is a rare genetic form of Alzheimer's disease. It is caused by inheriting mutations in one of three genes: APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2. People with these mutations typically develop Alzheimer's at a younger age, often between 30 and 50 years old.
People with FAD also have a 50% chance of passing the disease on to each of their children. That means families with this mutation often see FAD affect many loved ones (siblings, uncles, aunts, cousins) across multiple generations.