[A systematic genetic-epidemiologic family study of patients with Alzheimer disease--experience with the MIRAGE study in Germany].

A register of the families of 60 patients with Alzheimer's disease was established with two questionnaires (the Family History Questionnaire and the Patient History Questionnaire). These questionnaires, instruments of the MIRAGE study, were translated into German. 35% of the families had more than one family member affected with dementia. The frequencies of the risk factors that were studied were surprisingly high. The responses of the family members to the study were very positive and encourage further investigation in the field of genetic epidemiology in Alzheimer's disease.