6 Factors You Should Know About Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Disease - the two words that none of us want to hear from a doctor.

Although medical research has made and continues to make advances to determine the causes of Alzheimer's disease, the exact causes are still not understood. But, researchers do have a more clear picture of Alzheimer's than they did a few years ago.

Most people with Alzheimer's disease have large quantities of plaques and tangles built up in the brain. Plaques are deposits of the protein beta-amyloid that accumulates in spaces between the brain's nerve cells. Tangles are deposits of the protein tau, that congregate and get twisted inside of the brain's nerve cells.

Researchers have determined that there are two (2) types of Alzheimer's Disease: Familial Alzheimer's disease and Sporadic Alzheimer's disease.

Familial Alzheimer's:

Familial Alzheimer's is a rare form of the disease, and characterized by early onset of the disease. Familial Alzheimer's affects less than 10% of Alzheimer's patients.

People with Familial Alzheimer's have a "deterministic gene" that inevitably leads to the development of the disease. Only a few hundred families in the world, have been found to carry the deterministic gene for Alzheimer's.

Sporadic Alzheimer's:

Sporadic Alzheimer's is a more common form of the disease. This type of Alzheimer's does not have a deterministic gene present. The onset of the disease is usually after age 65. Genetic factors play a role in its development, although, there is no specific gene linked to this type of Alzheimer's.

Doctors have identified several risk factors, that they believe, can be linked to the development of Alzheimer's. The following risk factors have shown to be prominent causes:

Six (6) Risk Factors to Know Right Now:

1. Age: Alzheimer's disease usually develops after age 65. Less than 5% of people age 65-74 have Alzheimer's, but the chance of developing the disease doubles every 5 years after age 65. Approximately 50% of the population over 85 is at risk for Alzheimer's.

2. Family History: Your chances of developing Alzheimer's are up to seven (7) times greater, if you a relative (parent, sibling) has the disease. This number is even higher if multiple family members have the disease.

3. Genetics: Apolipoprotein E (APOE-e4) gene gene has been identified as a risk gene for Alzheimer's. A risk gene increases the likelihood of developing a specific disease, but unlike a deterministic gene, it does not guarantee you will develop it.

The APOE gene increases an individual's risk for developing late-onset Alzheimer disease. The APOE gene provides instructions for making a protein called apolipoprotein E. This protein combines with fats (lipids) in the body to form molecules called lipoproteins. Lipoproteins are responsible for package and carry cholesterol and other fats through the bloodstream.

Everyone inherits a copy of an APOE gene from each parent. There are three types of APOE genes: APOE-e2, APOE-e3, and APOE-e4. Only the APOE-e4 gene has been linked to Alzheimer's, and people having one copy of the APOE-e4 gene are 2-3 times more likely to develop Alzheimer's. Unfortunately, people with two copies of the gene (approximately 1% of the population) have a 9 times greater risk.

4. Gender: Women have higher risks of developing Alzheimer's than men.

5. Education: Several studies indicate a connection between less education and increased risks of Alzheimer's. But, more research is needed in this area.

6. Head Injuries: Serious traumatic head injuries, such as concussions, have been linked increased risks of Alzheimer's.

According to Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., President and Medical Director of the non-profit Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation, many of these risk factors can be controlled by adopting healthy lifestyle choices.

Dr. Khalsa has found that lowering stress, maintaining a healthy diet, and staying physically and mentally active, it is possible to dramatically reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's.

So, although, we're uncertain as to what causes Alzheimer's disease, it's clear we can lower our chances of developing it, by taking good care of our body and mind.

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