Summary: New research reveals that people with a father who had Alzheimer’s may be more vulnerable to the spread of tau protein in the brain, a hallmark of the disease. The study followed 243 individuals with a family history of Alzheimer’s over nearly seven years and found that those with affected fathers, especially women, showed greater tau buildup.
Surprisingly, this contradicts previous assumptions that maternal inheritance posed higher risk. These findings may help inform future strategies for personalized prevention and intervention.
Key Facts:
- Paternal Link: Having a father with Alzheimer’s is associated with greater tau protein spread in the brain.
- Sex Difference: Female participants showed more extensive tau buildup than males.
- Early Signs: 71 participants developed mild cognitive impairment during the study, a precursor to Alzheimer’s.
Source: AAN
While some studies have suggested that having a mother with Alzheimer’s disease may put you more at risk of developing the disease, a new study finds that having a father with the disease may be tied to a greater spread of the tau protein in the brain that is a sign of the disease, according to a study published on April 9, 2025, online in Neurology.
The study does not prove that having a father with Alzheimer’s results in these brain changes; it only shows an association.
The study also showed that female participants may be more at risk of a heavier buildup of tau protein than male participants.
“We were surprised to see that people with a father with Alzheimer’s were more vulnerable to the spread of tau in the brain, as we had hypothesized that we would see more brain changes in people with affected mothers,” said study author Sylvia Villeneuve, PhD, of McGill University in Montreal, Canada.
The study looked at 243 people who had a family history of Alzheimer’s disease but had no thinking or memory problems themselves at the average age of 68. Family history was defined as one or both parents with the disease or at least two siblings with the disease.
Participants had brain scans and took tests of thinking and memory skills at the start of the study and then during the study as they were followed for an average of nearly seven years.
During that time, 71 people developed mild cognitive impairment, which is a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers found that people with a father with Alzheimer’s disease as well as female participants had a greater spread of tau protein in the brain. Female participants also had a heavier buildup of tau protein in the brain.
“Better understanding these vulnerabilities could help us design personalized interventions to help protect against Alzheimer’s disease,” Villeneuve said.
A limitation of the study is that white people made up the majority of participants, so the results may not apply to other groups.
Funding: The study was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Quebec Research Fund – Health, J.-Louis Lévesque Foundation, Brain Canada Foundation, Alzheimer’s Society Canada and Brain Canada Research.
About this Alzheimer’s disease research news
Author: Natalie Conrad
Source: AAN
Contact: Natalie Conrad – AAN
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: The findings will appear in Neurology
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