MONDAY, Nov. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Middle-aged adults whose
parents have Alzheimer's disease are at increased risk for high blood
pressure, evidence of arterial disease and markers of inflammation -- all
of which may be associated with later development of Alzheimer's
disease.

That's the finding of a study by researchers in the Netherlands who
compared 206 adults in 92 families with a parental history of Alzheimer's
and 200 adults in 97 families with no parental history of the disease.

The team at the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam measured the
participants' blood pressure, analyzed blood samples for genetic
characteristics, cholesterol levels and levels of pro-inflammatory
proteins called cytokines, and collected medical history and details about
diet, exercise and stress levels.

The study found that 47 percent of adults with Alzheimer's-afflicted
parents carried the gene (APOE e4) known to be associated with the
disease, compared with 21 percent of those with no family history of
Alzheimer's. Those with a family history had higher blood pressure
readings, signs of arterial disease and higher levels of several different
cytokines.

High blood cholesterol and glucose levels were not associated with
parental Alzheimer's disease, according to the study, which is published
in the November issue of the journal Archives of General
Psychiatry.

"Our study shows that high blood pressure and an innate
pro-inflammatory cytokine response in middle age significantly contribute
to Alzheimer's disease," wrote Dr. Eric van Exel and colleagues. "As these
risk factors cluster in families, it is important to realize that early
interventions could prevent late-onset Alzheimer's disease. One could
argue for a high-risk prevention strategy by identifying the offspring of
patients with Alzheimer's disease, screening them for hypertension and
vascular factors and implementing various (non)pharmacological health
measures."

More information

The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more about Alzheimer's disease.