Causes of Alzheimer's disease - Health Conditions

Causes of Alzheimer's Disease

Causes of Alzheimer's disease

Currently there is no answer for the cause of Alzheimer's disease, but there are a number of theories which have been proposed (but have not yet been proven):

Family history / genetics

There is some strong evidence that within certain families, there is a definite connection between developing Alzheimer's disease and family history of the condition. Other research shows that people who have family members with Alzheimer's disease have a greater risk for developing this condition than people without any family members who have this condition. Research in this area continues to search for the definite link between heredity and this condition in order to understand how Alzheimer's disease develops in certain people and not in other people (even in the same family).

Environmental factors

There are a number of theories about the different types of environmental factors that could cause Alzheimer's disease, but there is no consensus about any of these theories.

Some of the theories proposed about environmental factors are:

Aluminium - a number of studies (including a long term, 15 year follow up study) suggest that long term or chronic exposure to aluminium (from drinking cans, pans, pots, food tins or other cooking items) may be responsible for some of the beta-amyloid accumulations and neurodegenerative damage which occurs in the brain of people with Alzheimer's disease. There are also a number of studies which suggest that aluminium is not related to development of Alzheimer's disease

Other internal factors

Some research suggests that there could be a number of other, yet unknown factors which could cause Alzheimer's disease. Some of the theories proposed in this area are:

Imbalanced body chemistry - it could be hormones, neurotransmitters or any other body chemicals that are not in a normal level
Immune system problems - the immune system may be faulty and this could cause Alzheimer's disease to develop
Virus - some researchers are looking into whether a very slow-acting virus is responsible for causing Alzheimer's disease

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Last reviewed: 7 October 2007 || Last updated: 12 March 2009

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