 |
print the page |  |
email the page |  |
|
- What is Alzheimer's disease?
- Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease
- Causes of Alzheimer's disease
- Prevention of Alzheimer's disease
- Risk factors for Alzheimer's disease
- Complications of Alzheimer's disease
- When to see a doctor about Alzheimer's disease
- Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease
- Conventional treatment of Alzheimer's disease
- Alternative/complementary treatment of Alzheimer's disease
- Living with Alzheimer's disease
- Caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease
Risk factors for Alzheimer's disease
Scientists have not yet discovered what causes Alzheimer's disease, although they do have a list of risk factors, which means people in these groups are at higher risk for this disease:
Some of these risk factors may be unpreventable:
- Age - people over 65 have a much higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease than younger people. People who are over 85 have a very significant risk of developing this disease
- Cold sores - the latest research also shows that the cold sore virus (herpes simplex) is linked to development of Alzheimer's disease in 30% of people who also have the apoliprotein E-e4 (APOE-e4)
- Family history - research shows that people who have a close family relative have a higher risk of also developing Alzheimer's disease when they get older
- Genetics - research has shown that certain genes play a definite role in the development of this disease:
- Risky genes - apoliprotein E-e4 (APOE-e4) gene provides the mechanism that allows proteins to carry cholesterol in the blood (lipoproteins). Inheriting this gene (1 or more copies of it) increases the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease but does not guarantee it
- Deterministic genes - inheriting some very rare genes are known to directly cause Alzheimer's disease, this type of the disease is called familial Alzheimer's disease and is responsible for less then about 5% of all cases of Alzheimer's disease
Advertisement
Some of these risk factors are (mostly) entirely preventable:
- Acetylcholine - the neurotransmitter acetylcholine is very low in people with Alzheimer's disease. This neurotransmitter is associated with good memory and if it is in deficit this can present as poor memory symptoms, which are associated with Alzheimer's disease
- Aluminium - current research has shown that higher than normal deposits of aluminium in the brain could be a risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease. Studies show that aluminium causes malfunction of the neurons (especially in the brain) and ultimately in cell death. If aluminium gets into the brain, it can disrupt normal brain cell function, cause free radical production and excessive excitation of the neurons in the brain (excitotoxicity) and all of this ultimately causes death of the brain cells. People who are deficient in magnesium are especially at risk, because aluminium competes with magnesium for absorption and usage
- Dopamine - studies show that the neurotransmitter dopamine is very low in people with Alzheimer's disease. Dopamine is associated with normal mood function and is synthesised from the amino acid tyrosine. Researchers do not know if people with Alzheimer's disease become deficient in dopamine due to the disease or they were first deficient in this neurotransmitter which led to the progression of Alzheimer's, but getting adequate amounts of tyrosine in the diet may significantly reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease
- Essential fatty acids - there is some research which suggests that a deficiency in the essential fatty acids DHA/EPA and GLA (gamma linolenic acid) are associated with a high risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and this is because much of the membranes of the brain cells need the essential fatty acids to function properly and behave normally
- Head injury - research shows that people who sustain a serious head injury at any point in their life are at higher risk for developing Alzheimer's disease. Always wear protective head gear when cycling, riding or engaging in any activity which could cause accidental head injury
- Healthy ageing - research suggests that overall health as people age has some implications on the risks of developing Alzheimer's disease. The main recommendations now are - stay within a healthy weight range, perform mental calculations every day (crosswords, maths problems, reading, writing), socialise, exercise and eat nutritious, unprocessed food
- Heart health - much research shows that an unhealthy vascular system (heart and blood vessels) is a definite risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. The brain is the body's most important organ and requires about 25% of the blood pumped from the heart, so if it is not getting the correct nutrients (oxygen, vitamins, minerals, glucose) every day, then it may be more vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease
- Heavy metal exposure - there is some research that suggests people who have had exposure to heavy metals (especially mercury) may have a higher risk for developing Alzheimer's disease. The research suggests that the mercury fillings in some sensitive people can adversely affect their brain and increase risk of development of Alzheimer's disease, especially if their diet is deficient in certain vitamins, minerals and other nutrients
- Homocysteine - high levels of the homocysteine, which is an by-product of a number of metabolic processes, is implicated as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. The higher the level of homocysteine in the blood, the more significant the memory, mood and concentration problems
- Stress - excessive amounts of stress, with elevated cortisol levels are associated with a higher risk for developing Alzheimer's disease
Advertisement
Sections: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
< 4: prevention 6: complications > Last reviewed: 7 October 2007 || Last updated: 12 March 2009
Related Articles
NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
