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

Pedigrees
Panel 1
Panel 2

The cultures in this collection are derived from selected members of a large German pedigree with familial Alzheimer disease. Ancestors have been traced through seven generations by personal contact and examination of written records. Three autopsies confirm the diagnosis of Alzheimer disease. The inheritance pattern in this family is most compatible with autosomal dominant transmission.

Research on this family has been conducted by Dr. Peter Frommelt in Germany in collaboration with Linda Nee, MSW [National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS)] and Dr. Ronald Polinsky (formerly with the NINDS) [Alzheimer Dis. Assoc. Disord. 5: 36-43 (1991)]. The primary focus of this work is genetic linkage studies; however, selected family members are participating in a longitudinal study of affected and at-risk subjects. 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)]. At this time, twenty members of the family have been diagnosed as Alzheimer disease. The average age of onset is approximately 49 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 either: