Alzheimer's Disease Causes & Risks

Causes

The cause is not yet known. Studies suggest that two main mechanisms are involved with the development of Alzheimer's disease:

Plaques—abnormal deposits of a substance called beta amyloid in different areas of the brain
Neurofibrillary tangles—twisted fibers within nerve cells

Risk Factors

Factors that increase your chance of Alzheimer's disease include:

Age: 65 and older
Previous serious, traumatic brain injury
Lower educational achievement
Down's syndrome
Down's syndrome in a first-degree relative
Women under 35 who give birth to a child with Down's syndrome
Smoking
Family history of Alzheimer's disease
Presence of a certain variety type of apolipoprotein (APOE-e4)
Depression
Elevated levels of homocysteine
Heart disease

Researchers are studying the following to see if they are related to Alzheimer's disease:

Poor nutrition and vitamin deficiency in childhood
Exposure to electromagnetic fields
Excess metal in the blood, especially zinc, copper, aluminum, and iron
Certain viral infections
Diabetes
High Cholesterol

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