Family history of Alzheimer's linked to early memory loss

February 19, 2009 The study finds children of parents with Alzheimer's can develop memory problems in their 50s or even younger. That's much earlier than previously thought.

That's according to a large study released by the US National Institutes of Health. It found middle-aged people whose parents had Alzheimer's and who carry the so-called Alzheimer's gene might very well have the memory of someone 15 years older.

Scientists say this is no excuse to send people scurrying for genetic testing though. Just because you carry the gene doesn't necessarily mean you will get the disease.

More research needs to be done to back these findings.