Alzheimer's Disease Causes
A non-reversible, degenerative and progressive disease, Alzheimer's disease results in memory loss, disorientation, personality changes, difficulty in the use of language, paranoia, problems with motor activity and declination of cognitive abilities in an Alzheimer's patient. As the disease progresses, the nerve cells in the brain gets damaged and destroyed completely. Studies have suggested that the development of Alzheimer's disease is affected by environmental and genetic factors.
Age, gender, genetics, family history, injuries and education are commonly considered to be the risk factors associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease. It is found that the chances of developing Alzheimer's increases manifold with increasing age after the age of sixty five. Studies have proven that women are more prone to the disease than men. The presence of Apoplipo protein E gene can cause Alzheimer's in individuals. A ‘deterministic gene' is also considered to increase the risk of being affected by Alzheimer's.
It is also found that people with parents, siblings or relatives affected with Alzheimer's are at the risk of developing the same. Head injuries and concussions are related to Alzheimer's. Researches have also found that there is a definite connection between increased risks of the disease and less education. High blood pressure or hypertension, diabetes, heat diseases and cholesterol also increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's.
Though the causes of Alzheimer's disease are not accurately known, many theories have been propagated in this regard which warrant further research and investigation. Chemical changes in the brain are related to development of Alzheimer's. The communication of brain cells with one another is done with the help of chemicals named neurotransmitters. Patients suffering from Alzheimer's generally have diminished levels of neurotransmitters in their brain. Increased levels of aluminum deposits are also noticed in the brains of the Alzheimer's patients.
Similarly, Plaques and Tangles are considered to be structures that damage and kill the nerve cells. Plaques consist of protein deposits named beta-amyloid and are found between nerve cells in the brain of an Alzheimer's patient. Twisted fibres made of proteins called tau are tangles. The Tangles and Plaques develop inside the brain in a predictable way. They affect the prominent areas related to memory and learning first and then gradually make their way to other significant regions in the brain. These Plaques and Tangles block the communication channels between nerve cells thereby disrupting the activities of the cells and developing Alzheimer's.
A deterministic gene is also related to the development of Alzheimer's. Sometimes, the immune system of the body also contributes to Alzheimer's disease's development. Normally, the immune system protects our bodies from the invasion of harmful entities but in rare cases it may attack its own tissues. This condition results in production of antibodies that can develop the disease. Researchers have also found the presence of a slow-acting virus that triggers brain disorders that resemble the Alzheimer's disease. Finally, the defects in the blood vessels are considered to be the cause of the disease. A further investigation into all these theories will help us to determine the exact cause of Alzheimer's disease.