Cause of Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease is a form of dementia where portions of the brain become damaged leading to a degeneration in intellectual and social ability, as well as decreased memory. Alzheimer's is a very common condition, especially in older people; almost half of people over the age of 85 will suffer from it at some level. The exact cause of Alzheimer's is not fully known, but there are two phenomena -- plaque buildups and tangles -- which occur in the brain that are linked with the disease. Plagues are protein build up between brain tissue which may interfere with brain communication; tangles are twisted strands of protein in the brain, that may damage and kill brain cells.
Heredity
While it is not entirely known what causes Alzheimer's disease, there are several factors that are known to make a person more likely to get Alzheimer's. One of the known risk factors is heredity. If you have a close relative, such as a parent or sibling with Alzheimer's, you may be at a higher risk of developing the disease. It is not known exactly how Alzheimer's is passed on genetically; other diseases such as cancer and heart disease show a much stronger genetic correlation than Alzheimer's.
Other Risk Factors
The risk of contracting Alzheimer's disease increases exponentially with time. Very few people will get Alzheimer's before the age of 60, but the older you get the greater your chance of getting the disease. Women tend to be more likely to get Alzheimer's, though this can possibly be explained by the fact that they live longer on average than men. The use of the brain and cognitive functions during one's life also seems to play a role in determining the onset of Alzheimer's. According to the Mayo Clinic, those with more education have been shown to exhibit Alzheimer's less than people with less education. Having any other form of cognitive impairment also increases the likelihood of Alzheimer's.
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