It's the same with many forms of cancer, and it may be the case with Alzheimer's. In the study, thousands of each participant's approximately 100,000 genes will be screened, then compared to his or her sibling's genetic pattern for differences. Consistent differences among the 500 sets of siblings would give physicians strong clues about which genes might be involved in the disease. The genetic analysis will be done at Harvard under the direction of a Rochester alumnus, Rudy Tanzi '80. Participants in the Alzheimer's study would make one short visit to Kurlan's clinic at the Medical Center.
Siblings can make the visit either together or separately.
Each will fill out a questionnaire, be evaluated by physicians, and have a blood sample drawn. There is no charge. Individuals who live outside Rochester and are unable to come in for a visit also can be included through special arrangements. The Rochester group also is taking part in similar sibling studies of Parkinson's disease and Tourette's syndrome. For each of those studies, Kurlan's group is hoping to enroll 50 sibling pairs.