Alzheimer’s Disease and the Risk Factors
June 16, 2009
Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia and is a slowly progressing disease. It is the inability of the brain cells to execute the normal functioning of the body. The brain cells get damaged gradually and the patient will have problems to recollect things, difficulty in controlling thought and language and to perform their day to day activities.
Causes of Alzheimer’s disease
Development of Plaques
Most of the patients having Alzheimer’s disease are found to have a protein named beta-amyloid in their nerves. This protein is common in aged people but in the case of Alzheimer’s patients they are seen in excess and their removal is a slow process. This protein gets stuck in between the nerve cells and their deposition is called plaques. These plaques in turn will inhibit the information from getting transmitted through the nerve cells and thus the normal functioning of the brain gets affected.
Development of Tangles
Another protein called tau gets deposited inside the nerve cells and is called tangles. These tangles also inhibit the nerve impulse transmission and thus impair the normal operation of the brain.
Risk factors for the Development of Plaques and Tangles
1. Family History
Family history plays an important role in developing this disease. Two types of genes are responsible for developing Alzheimer’s disease and one of them is risk gene ApoE 4 and the other is deterministic gene. If a person got ApoE 4 gene from his family then he is at greater risk of getting Alzheimer’s. At times he may also escape from the disease. If he gets the deterministic gene then he will get the disease by 100%.
2. Life style
A person with out any proper routine in his life may get this disease. No exercise, uncontrolled diet, consumption of alcohol, tobacco smoking etc will increase the chances for getting Alzheimer’s. If a person uses his brain for intellectual activities and if he is socially active then he is less risk to get this disease.
3. Age
People above the age of 65 years and more are more prone to Alzheimer’s disease and the risk is increases in every five years.
Heart has an important role in nourishing your brain with the supply of blood and oxygen. So if you have a problem in your blood vessels or in heart then your chances for getting Alzheimer’s disease is greater. Any deficiency in blood supply to the brain cells may affect their functioning. Diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol are some of the causes for heart disease And hence these diseases may also leads you to Alzheimer’s disease.
5. Head Injury
Head injuries are also considered as a root cause for Alzheimer’s disease.
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