Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative, neurological disorder that mainly affects the elderly. The damage to brain tissue causes patients to lose simple cognitive functions and leads to severe memory loss. Although Alzheimer's disease is not a part of normal aging, the risk of developing the disease increases with age. Only five percent of people have Alzheimer's disease between the ages of 65 and 74. However, nearly half the population of the elderly over the age of 85 is affected by the disease.
Symptoms
There are five stages of Alzheimer's disease. However, initial symptoms are mild and are normally disregarded as a simple lapse in memory. Symptoms begin with forgetfulness such as the location of items or daily appointments. As the disease progresses, the patient loses memory of loved ones, the ability to do abstract thinking and disorientation. Eventually, complete personality changes occur and the patient is no longer able to function alone.
Neuron Damage
The main cause of Alzheimer's is the neuron damage in the brain. Several factors lead to the damage caused by Alzheimer's and the degeneration of neuron cells destroys the patient's ability to function. There are two types of damage that occur in Alzheimer's patients. Plaques develop in the brain when beta-amyloid proteins clump and interfere with normal electric communication in brain waves. Tangles, the other source of neuron damage, happen when a vital protein, called tau, undergoes sudden shape changes causing twists in brain tissues. These twists cause brain neurons to die.
Genetic Factors
Genetics play a role in the development of Alzheimer's disease. Patients who have parents or siblings with Alzheimer's are more likely to develop the disease with age. The genetic mutations that occur within family members show a history of increased chance in neuron damage. Additionally, women are more likely to obtain Alzheimer's than men, mostly because they live longer.
Diet and Exercise
Although cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's are not linked, the same lifestyle habits that cause heart disease also play a part in Alzheimer's risks. High blood pressure and increased intake of cholesterol are shown to have effects on the development of the disease. People who remain inactive and do little exercise are also at a higher risk.
Education
Although education is not a risk factor, the amount of cognitive activities plays a role in future development of Alzheimer's. The more exercise the brain gets, the more synapses are developed, which serve as a reservoir of healthy brain tissue during aging. Because formal education forces more brain activity, education is a factor in risk assessment.
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