[List of Fibroblasts in the Collection]
[List of Lymphoblasts in the Collection ]

Pedigrees
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The cultures in this collection are derived from selected members of an extensive pedigree with familial Alzheimer disease. This family was referred to NIH in 1977 and first reported by Nee et al. in 1983 [Arch. Neurol. 40: 203-208]. Ancestors had been traced through eight generations by personal contact and examination of written records; identifying information was accumulated on over 10,000 individuals. Fifty-one individuals were diagnosed as Alzheimer disease. Neuropathological verification of Alzheimer disease was obtained in four affected family members. The pedigree reported in 1983 contains information on 531 relatives. The inheritance pattern in this family is most compatible with autosomal dominant transmission.

Research on this family has been conducted by Linda Nee, MSW [National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS)] and Dr. Ronald Polinsky (formerly with the NINDS). The primary efforts focused on genetic linkage studies and a longitudinal investigation of affected and at-risk family members. This family is one of the four pedigrees used by St. George-Hyslop et al. to identify a region of chromosome 21 that is linked to Alzheimer disease [Science 235: 885-890 (1987)]. More recently identified members and branches of the family have been incorporated into the accompanying pedigree. At this time, fifty-four members have been diagnosed as Alzheimer disease. Seven autopsies now confirm the diagnosis. The average age of onset in this family is 52 years. Field expeditions have been conducted for the purposes of performing neurological examinations and collecting specimens for establishing the fibroblast and lymphoblast collections. Specimens have been collected with genetic linkage studies in mind with the highest priority for affected individuals, followed by spouse and children of a deceased affected, first degree at-risk family member, escapee and spouse.

Additional cultures may become available in the future.

Further information on the status of clinical and linkage studies in this family can be obtained by contacting: