Causes of Alzheimer’s Disease
The exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is unknown. However, it has been identified that multiple factors play a vital role in the development of the disorder, wherein these factors may cause the disorder either by itself or by interacting with the other factors.
Age
Increasing age is considered as the most common risk factor, as it is associated with numerous changes in the structure and composition of the various cells and tissues in the body.1,2 Damage to the certain specific proteins that may alter the functioning of the brain and certain minute changes in the gene structure have been implicated as the age-related changes that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease.2
Hereditary Factors
Alzheimer’s disease tends to run in the family wherein certain genetic modifications observed in individual’s suffering from this disorder are passed on to their offspring. Such individuals tend to suffer from this disorder as their age progresses.
1,2
Other Factors
Various other factors have been proposed to play a role in the occurrence of
Alzheimer’s disease. These factors have been hypothesized to augment the changes in the brain that ultimately results in the loss of memory and other associated disturbances. These risk factors include the following:
1Poor education
- Consumption .f a high fat, high caloric diet
- Previous serious trauma to the head
- Smoking
- Cardiovascular disorders
- Hypercholesterolemia
- Diabetes mellitus
- Menopause
- Sedentary lifestyle
Written by: Healthplus24 team
Date last updated: March 01, 2009
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Articles in alzeimer’s disease