| For many years, doctors have been working
| |
| | Alzheimer's.
|
| hard to determine what causes Alzheimer's
| |
| | 2. Family History - Your chances of
|
| disease. Due to the complex nature of the
| |
| | developing Alzheimer's are up to 7 times
|
| disease, the exact causes are not yet
| |
| | greater if you have a first degree
|
| fully understood. However, strides are
| |
| | relative (parent, sibling) that has the
|
| being made on a daily basis, and
| |
| | disease. This number is even higher if
|
| researchers have a much clearer picture
| |
| | multiple family members have the disease.
|
| of Alzheimer's than they did even a few
| |
| | 3. Genetics - The APOE-e4 gene has been
|
| years ago.
| |
| | identified as a risk gene for
|
| Most people with Alzheimer's disease have
| |
| | Alzheimer's. A risk gene increases the
|
| large quantities of plaques and tangles
| |
| | likelihood of developing a disease, but
|
| built up in their brain. Plaques are
| |
| | unlike a deterministic gene, it
|
| deposits of the protein beta-amyloid
| |
| | fortunately doesn't guarantee you will
|
| accumulating in the spaces between the
| |
| | develop it.
|
| brain's nerve cells. Tangles are deposits
| |
| | The APOE gene provides the blueprint for
|
| of the protein tau that accumulate and
| |
| | one of the proteins that carries
|
| become twisted inside of the brain's
| |
| | cholesterol in the blood stream. Everyone
|
| nerve cells
| |
| | inherits a copy of an APOE gene from each
|
| Two Types of Alzheimer's Disease
| |
| | parent. There are three types of APOE
|
| Researchers have determined that there
| |
| | genes: APOE-e2, APOE-e3, and APOE-e4.
|
| are two types of Alzheimer's: Familial
| |
| | Only the APOE-e4 gene has been linked to
|
| Alzheimer's disease and Sporadic
| |
| | Alzheimer's. People with one copy of the
|
| Alzheimer's disease.
| |
| | APOE-e4 gene are 2-3 times more likely to
|
| Familial Alzheimer's is a rare form of
| |
| | develop Alzheimer's. People with two
|
| the disease. It is characterized by an
| |
| | copies of the gene (approximately 1% of
|
| early onset and affects less than 10% of
| |
| | the population) have a 9 times greater
|
| Alzheimer's patients.
| |
| | risk.
|
| People with Familial Alzheimer's have a
| |
| | 4. Gender - Women have a greater risk of
|
| "deterministic gene" which inevitably
| |
| | developing Alzheimer's than men.
|
| leads to the development of the disease.
| |
| | 5. Education - Several studies have shown
|
| Only a few hundred families in the world
| |
| | a connection between less education and
|
| have been found to carry the
| |
| | an increased risk of Alzheimer's.
|
| deterministic gene for Alzheimer's.
| |
| | However, more research is needed in this
|
| Sporadic Alzheimer's is the more common
| |
| | area.
|
| form of the disease. There is no
| |
| | 6. Head Injuries - Serious traumatic head
|
| deterministic gene present in Sporadic
| |
| | injuries, such as concussions, have been
|
| Alzheimer's patients. The onset of the
| |
| | linked to an increased risk of
|
| disease is much later in life (usually
| |
| | Alzheimer's.
|
| after age 65).
| |
| | But there is good news. According to
|
| Although there is no specific gene linked
| |
| | Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., President and
|
| to this form of the disease, genetic
| |
| | Medical Director of the non-profit
|
| factors do appear to play a role in its
| |
| | Alzheimer's Research and Prevention
|
| development.
| |
| | Foundation, many of these risk factors
|
| 6 Risk Factors to Know Right Now
| |
| | can be controlled by adopting good
|
| Doctors have identified several risk
| |
| | lifestyle choices.
|
| factors which they can link to the
| |
| | Dr. Khalsa has found that by lowering
|
| development of Alzheimer's. The following
| |
| | stress, maintaining a healthy diet, and
|
| 6 factors have shown to be prominent
| |
| | staying physically and mentally active,
|
| causes of the disease:
| |
| | it is possible to dramatically reduce
|
| 1. Age - Alzheimer's disease usually
| |
| | your risk of developing Alzheimer's.
|
| develops after age 65. Less than 5% of
| |
| | So while we are still uncertain as to
|
| people age 65-74 have Alzheimer's, but
| |
| | precisely what causes Alzheimer's
|
| the chance of developing the disease
| |
| | disease, it is clear that we have
|
| doubles every 5 years after age 65.
| |
| | considerable power to lower our chances
|
| Almost 50% of the population over 85 are
| |
| | of developing it - if we take good care
|
| said to have developed some degree of
| |
| | of our body and mind.
|
