Proceedings of Singapore Healthcare (Dec 2010)

Genetic and Genomic Aspects of Alzheimer's Disease

  • Sze-Ming Chua MBBS, MMed (Psych),
  • Beng-Yeong Ng MBBS, MMed (Psych), FAMS,
  • Tih-Shih Lee MD, PhD

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/201010581001900408
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 19

Abstract

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Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common chronic neurodegenerative disease today, afflicting 35 million people worldwide. Age is the major risk factor. The heritability of AD is estimated to be around 60%. Less than 5% of AD cases are familial with early-onset of disease caused by specific gene mutations. Genetic studies over the past 2 decades have provided invaluable insights into this complex disease. Here we review AD from the latest genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and a brief review of the transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and epigenetics. Ultimately, a system-wide approach is essential to integrating the diverse and complicated findings into a meaningful understanding of AD.