The colour of our eyes or the straightness of our hair is linked to our DNA, but the development of Alzheimer's disease isn't exclusively linked to genetics, suggests new research. In the first study published about Alzheimer's disease among identical triplets, researchers found that despite sharing the same DNA, two of the triplets developed Alzheimer's while one did not.

The two triplets that developed Alzheimer's were diagnosed in their mid-70s, said the paper published in the journal Brain. "These findings show that your genetic code doesn't dictate whether you are guaranteed to develop Alzheimer's," said Dr. Morris Freedman, head of neurology at Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care.