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What causes Alzheimer
Disease?
Do We Know The Exact Cause of Alzheimer Disease?
While there has been enormous progress in the understanding of genes that are involved in Alzheimer disease, we still do not know the exact cause(s) of this condition. We have identified a number of genes as well as proteins that predispose individuals to getting Alzheimer disease. In the brains of Alzheimer victims, there are hallmark changes. Two of these are the formation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. A neuron with neurofibrillary tangles is shown below. These abnormal changes involve two proteins beta-amyloid and tau. Much of current research is focused on ways to prevent the formation of these pathological changes.
- Age
- Genetics / Family History
- Head Trauma
- Education and Income
- Smoking
- Estrogen Replacement Therapy (Protective)
- Inflammatory Drug Use (Protective)
- Antioxidant Consumption (Protective)
The risk of developing Alzheimer disease increases exponentially with
aging. Between ages 65 to 74, approximately 2 to 3% of Americans have
Alzheimer Disease. This number rises rapidly and reaches 8 to 19% by ages
75 to 84 and from 18% to 47% by ages 85 and above. [Back
to Conditions]
Genetics / Family History
Having a family history of Alzheimer disease increases your risk of developing the condition. This is particular true for those who have family members who develop Alzheimer disease in their 60's or early 70's. Having certain genes may predispose you to develop Alzheimer disease. There is one gene for a blood protein, called Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) that appears to increase or decrease your risk of Alzheimer disease. The gene comes in three alleles (forms), ApoE2, ApoE3 and ApoE4. The increased risk is associated with the ApoE4 allele. Individuals with two doses of this gene are at considerably increased risk of developing Alzheimer disease. In some rare families, the gene is passed from generation to generation in a dominant genetic fashion and approximately 50% of all family members develop the condition if they live long enough. [Back to Conditions]
Individuals who have had significant head trauma, usually with loss of
consciousness are at increased risk of Alzheimer and Partkinson disease.
This condition is very frequent in retired boxers who have sustained repeated
head trauma as part of the sport.
[Back to Conditions]
Education and Income
Individuals from higher socioeconomic backgrounds have a reduced risk
of Alzheimer disease. There has been much speculation on the basis for
this relationship. For example, it is possible, that individuals with
greater intellectual functioning who seek higher education and earn more
money have more complex brain wiring and more brain reserve which may
be protective.
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Factoid A study of nuns revealed some intriguing insight into Alzheimer disease. These nuns wrote essays as part of their training. 50 years later, these essays were analyzed for their level of complexity and the nuns were examined for Alzheimer disease. Those nuns that wrote the most complex essays had the lowest risk of developing Alzheimer disease. |
Smoking
Smokers appear to be at twice the risk of developing Alzheimer disease
than non-smokers. This adds another condition to the long list of diseases
and disorders related to smoking. To learn more about quitting smoking,
click on the following.
A large number of studies have shown that women who have taken Estrogen
Replacement Therapy are protected from developing Alzheimer disease. However,
Estrogen does not appear effective in treating Alzheimer disease once
it develops.
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Factoid The first study linking Estrogen Replacement and the prevention of Alzheimer disease was done at the Andrus Gerontology Center at the University of Southern California, the home of AgeWorks. |
Inflammatory Drug Use (Protective)
Individuals who have taken anti-inflammatory drugs to treat their arthritis and other conditions appear to be protected against developing Alzheimer disease.
Antioxidant Consumption (Protective)
There is some intriguing evidence that individuals who consume high levels
of dietary antioxidants may be protected from Alzheimer disease. However,
at this time, there is no clear evidence that taking supplemental antioxidants
will protect you from this disease. To learn more about antioxidants click
on the following:
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