David Pérez, neurologist: “Alzheimer's and dementias do not have a direct inheritance pattern”

Dr. David Pérez is a leading figure in the field of neurology. With more than 20 years of clinical experience treating complex neurological disorders, he trained in this medical specialty at Madrid’s 12 de Octubre Hospital and at the Neurology Department of Indiana University in the United States.

He currently serves as a professor of neurology at the Complutense University School of Medicine, president of the Madrid Neurology Association, and head of neurology services at both La Luz Hospital and 12 de Octubre. In addition, he has contributed to more than a dozen books on the subject, published around one hundred scientific articles in medical journals, and conducts research in several areas related to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

On March 18, the neurologist released his new book Cuida tu salud cerebral (Take Care of Your Brain Health), a guide “to aging without cognitive decline,” as he describes it. At a time when Alzheimer’s and dementia are among the public’s greatest concerns, Dr. Pérez sheds light on the issue by explaining how the brain works and how genetic and environmental factors influence the development of cognitive decline.

Genetics and environment in cognitive decline

As the doctor explains, “cognitive development is a complex process influenced by the interaction between genetic and environmental factors.” He adds, “Familial forms caused by genetic mutations represent a very small fraction of cases of cognitive decline. Even so, the discovery of these genetic forms has helped advance our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s.”

In one chapter of Take Care of Your Brain Health, the neurologist also explains that dementia and Alzheimer’s are not unavoidable outcomes. “While genetics plays a role in the risk of developing dementia, in most cases it is not a determining factor,” Pérez states. “Dementias are multifactorial diseases, which means they depend on a combination of circumstances such as age, lifestyle, and overall health, in addition to genetics, of course.”

“There are exceptional cases in which a specific inherited genetic mutation can cause the disease with very high certainty. These mutations affect genes known as APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2, which are associated with early-onset Alzheimer’s, occurring before the age of sixty. This type of hereditary Alzheimer’s accounts for less than 1% of all cases,” he concludes.

Dr. David Pérez also warns that factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, and unhealthy habits are, according to the evidence, major warning signs when it comes to cognitive decline.

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