A recent study by Mass General Brigham has revealed that a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease may be influenced more significantly by maternal family history. Researchers found higher levels of amyloid plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer's, in individuals whose mothers had the disease, compared to those whose fathers had it. The study, which involved 4,400 cognitively unimpaired adults, noted that early-onset Alzheimer’s in fathers also contributed to elevated amyloid levels in offspring. These findings suggest that maternal inheritance could be critical in identifying individuals for Alzheimer's prevention trials. The study highlights the role of genetics, particularly mitochondrial DNA and X chromosome-linked factors, in the development of the disease.