For generations, 25 families in the region of Antioquia, Colombia have watched their family members suffer from early-onset Alzheimer’s. Their relatives were victims of a genetic mutation that caused Alzheimer’s to set in 15 years earlier.

Symptoms would show up as early as age 40 instead of age 65. Clueless as to what could be the cause of the illness, families thought it was a curse when relatives would show signs of forgetfulness, disorientation and delusional ideas.

Some family members, however, have been recently learning about the disease. Lucia Madrigal, a clinical psychologist at neurosciences group of Antioquia, is part of a program to educate families on early-onset Alzheimer’s.

“At first it was difficult for the families to understand, especially in rural places because they had always believed that their patient didn’t have an illness,” said Madrigal.

As CCTV America’s Michelle Begue reported, this so called family “curse” could, in fact, potentially lead to a breakthrough in Alzheimer’s research.

Colombian mutation of Alzheimer’s could hold key for scientific breakthrough

For generations, 25 families in the region of Antioquia, Colombia have watched their family members suffer from early-onset Alzheimer’s. Their relatives were victims of a genetic mutation that caused Alzheimer’s to set in 15 years earlier. As CCTV America's Michelle Begue reported, this so called family “curse” could, in fact, potentially lead to a breakthrough in Alzheimer’s research.

At least 300 participants from Antioquia will be a part of a five-year clinical trial conducted by Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, National Institutes of Health and the University of Antioquia’s Neurosciences Group in Medellin.

Franciso Lopera from the Neuroscience Group University Antioquia said the results of the study will be released around 2020 and the treatment will be used to study sporadic Alzheimer’s.

Watch this web extra to find out more details about the research study and the potential it has to become a breakthrough in the study of this horrible disease.

Web Extra: Colombia's research into Alzheimer\'s

Watch this web extra to find out more details about the research study and the potential it has to become a breakthrough in the study of this horrible disease.