Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative condition of the brain that causes a person to lose memory, cognition, reasoning skills and the ability to fend for oneself. While no one knows the precise causes of this disease, some theories are gaining prominence, including age, family history and lifestyle factors. Treatments are limited currently, but there are medications that can help maintain cognitive function for greater lengths of time.
Old Age
Age is linked with Alzheimer's. Most people who have the disease first develop symptoms after age 60. Alzheimer's is disturbingly common among senior citizens, and is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. One in eight people older than 65 have Alzheimer's, and half of those over 85 have it.
Head Injury
Another possible cause of Alzheimer's: experiencing a head injury at some point in your life. Apparently, if you manage to avoid serious head injury, whether from from falling, a car accident or some other incident, you reduce your chances of developing the disease.
A History of Heart Disease
While a direct link has not been established, heart disease is now thought to be connected to the development of Alzheimer's disease. Those that have heart disease are at a higher risk of having Alzheimer's or dementia later in life.
A Family History
It is much more likely that you'll develop Alzheimer's if you've had a family member that's had it. In fact, your chances increase two to three times. A gene called ApoE 4 is related to your risk of having Alzheimer's, and while having the gene doesn't guarantee you'll have the disease, it does increase your chances. A rare gene called a deterministic gene exists and it guarantees you'll develop Alzheimer's much earlier in life.
Plaques and Tangles
Alzheimer's is known to be caused by a buildup a plaques and tangles within the brain. These substances are proteins that build up between and inside nerve cells, respectively. Scientists currently believe the buildup of these proteins prevent nerve cells from being able to communicate, causing the breakdown of mental function. While plaques and tangles cannot be seen in living patients, they have been spotted in autopsies of people who were were believed to have had the disease.
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