The true cause of Alzheimer’s disease is not fully known. Research continues to fully understand the cause of Alzheimer’s but there are certain characteristics that characterize the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
While the cause of Alzheimer’s is not known, Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by a build-up of proteins in the brain. This build up of protein in Alzheimer’s patients can be described as either brain plaques or tangles.
Brain plaques are characterized by deposits of a protein beta-amyloid. This protein generally accumulates in the spaces between nerve cells and is thought to disrupt signals in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Tangles are deposits of the protein tau. This protein tends to accumulate inside the nerve cells.
Recent studies have shown that brain plaques in healthy people increases their risk to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
Scientists are hoping that by studying both brain plaques and tangles they will develop an understanding into the cause of Alzheimer’s disease.
While it has been shown that most people develop brain plaques and tangles as they age, people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease develop more. It is still unknown as to why some people develop more brain plaques and tangles than those who do not develop Alzheimer’s disease. It is thought that there may be several risk factors that contribute to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
While there is no known cause of Alzheimer’s disease, age is the number one risk factor associated with the development of Alzheimer’s. One in eight people over the age of 65 has Alzheimer’s disease and this increases to one out of every two people over the age of 85. In fact, it has been shown that the probability of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease almost doubles every five years of age after 65.
Another important factor contributing to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease is based in genetics. While it is not known if there is a genetic cause to Alzheimer’s disease, people who have parents and siblings that develop Alzheimer’s are approximately three times as likely to develop the brain disease than those families with now history of Alzheimer’s.
Scientists have shown there are two genes associated with Alzheimer’s disease. If a person has the “risk gene”, the chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease is increased but not guaranteed. If a person inherits the “deterministic gene”, a much rarer occurence, the person will develop Alzheimer’s disease.
The existence of these two genes form the basis of more research into the cause of Alzheimer’s disease.
