• Cancers
    • Colorectal Cancer
    • Lymphoma
    • Penile Cancer
    • Uterine Cancer
    • Breast Cancer
    • Stomach Cancer
    • Bone Cancer
    • Cervical Cancer
    • Brain Cancer
    • Leukemia (Blood Cells Cancer)
    • Endometrial Cancer
    • Neuroblastoma
    • Kidney Cancer
  • Brain
    • Stroke
    • Dyslexia
    • Down Syndrome
    • Cerebral Palsy
    • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
    • Alcoholism
    • Autism
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Epilepsy
    • Schizophrenia
    • Insomnia
    • Alzheimer’s Disease
    • Parkinson’s Disease
    • Migraine
    • Phobia
  • Heart
    • Hypertension
    • Endocarditis
    • Coronary Heart Disease
    • Myocardial Infarction
    • Arrhythmia
    • Angina
    • Enlarged heart
    • Pericarditis
    • Venous Thromboembolism (VTE)
    • Peripheral Arterial Disease
    • Ventricular Septal Defect
    • Hypotension
  • Urinary Health
    • Chronic Kidney Disease
    • Diabetic Nephropathy
    • Urinary Tract Infection
    • Prostatitis
    • Urinary Incontinence
    • Enlarged Prostate
    • Blood in Urine
    • Kidney Stones
    • Erectile Dysfunction
    • Cystitis
  • Eye
    • Myopia
    • Glaucoma
    • Dry Eyes
    • Conjunctivitis
    • Cataracts
    • Color Blindness
    • Macular Degeneration
    • Diabetic Retinopathy
    • Retinal Detachment
    • Keratoconus
  • Skin
    • Shingles
    • Rosacea
    • Eczema
    • Vitiligo
    • Psoriasis
    • Scabies
    • Acne
    • Dandruff
  • Women Health
    • Uterine Fibroids
    • Pregnancy
    • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
    • Vaginitis
    • Endometriosis
    • Preeclampsia
    • Menstruation
    • Ovarian Cyst
    • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
  • Digestive Health
    • Celiac Disease
    • Hemorrhoids
    • Achalasia
    • Diarrhea
    • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
    • Diverticulitis
    • Liver Cirrhosis
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Constipation
    • Appendicitis
    • Ulcerative Colitis
    • Gallstones
    • Crohn’s Disease
  • Bone Health
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Osteoporosis
    • Cyst
    • Osteomyelitis
    • Sciatica
    • Fibromyalgia
    • Calcium Deficiency
    • Gout
    • Rickets in Children
    • Spinal Stenosis
  • Dental
    • Periodontal Disease
    • Dental Caries
    • Bad Breath
    • Sensitive Teeth
    • Dry Mouth
    • Supernumerary Teeth
    • Bruxism
    • Tooth Loss
    • Impacted Tooth
  • More
    • Hyperthyroidism
    • Rhinitis
    • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
    • Thalassemia
    • Hepatitis
    • Sinusitis
    • Acromegaly
    • Health and Wellness
    • Achondroplasia
    • Diabetes Mellitus
    • Asthma
    • Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19)
    • Sleep Apnea
    • Tuberculosis

Write For Us

What's Hot

How Big Are Kidney Stones?

February 3, 2021
Dyslexia

What Do Words Look Like to a Dyslexic Person?

February 3, 2021
Gallstones without a gallbladder image

Can you Get Gallstones without a Gallbladder?

July 12, 2022
Facebook Twitter YouTube
DiseaseFix – World's Largest Disease Information Center
  • Write For Us
Facebook Twitter YouTube
  • Cancers
    • Colorectal Cancer
    • Lymphoma
    • Penile Cancer
    • Uterine Cancer
    • Breast Cancer
    • Stomach Cancer
    • Bone Cancer
    • Cervical Cancer
    • Brain Cancer
    • Leukemia (Blood Cells Cancer)
    • Endometrial Cancer
    • Neuroblastoma
    • Kidney Cancer
  • Brain
    • Stroke
    • Dyslexia
    • Down Syndrome
    • Cerebral Palsy
    • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
    • Alcoholism
    • Autism
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Epilepsy
    • Schizophrenia
    • Insomnia
    • Alzheimer’s Disease
    • Parkinson’s Disease
    • Migraine
    • Phobia
  • Heart
    • Hypertension
    • Endocarditis
    • Coronary Heart Disease
    • Myocardial Infarction
    • Arrhythmia
    • Angina
    • Enlarged heart
    • Pericarditis
    • Venous Thromboembolism (VTE)
    • Peripheral Arterial Disease
    • Ventricular Septal Defect
    • Hypotension
  • Urinary Health
    • Chronic Kidney Disease
    • Diabetic Nephropathy
    • Urinary Tract Infection
    • Prostatitis
    • Urinary Incontinence
    • Enlarged Prostate
    • Blood in Urine
    • Kidney Stones
    • Erectile Dysfunction
    • Cystitis
  • Eye
    • Myopia
    • Glaucoma
    • Dry Eyes
    • Conjunctivitis
    • Cataracts
    • Color Blindness
    • Macular Degeneration
    • Diabetic Retinopathy
    • Retinal Detachment
    • Keratoconus
  • Skin
    • Shingles
    • Rosacea
    • Eczema
    • Vitiligo
    • Psoriasis
    • Scabies
    • Acne
    • Dandruff
  • Women Health
    • Uterine Fibroids
    • Pregnancy
    • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
    • Vaginitis
    • Endometriosis
    • Preeclampsia
    • Menstruation
    • Ovarian Cyst
    • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
  • Digestive Health
    • Celiac Disease
    • Hemorrhoids
    • Achalasia
    • Diarrhea
    • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
    • Diverticulitis
    • Liver Cirrhosis
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Constipation
    • Appendicitis
    • Ulcerative Colitis
    • Gallstones
    • Crohn’s Disease
  • Bone Health
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Osteoporosis
    • Cyst
    • Osteomyelitis
    • Sciatica
    • Fibromyalgia
    • Calcium Deficiency
    • Gout
    • Rickets in Children
    • Spinal Stenosis
  • Dental
    • Periodontal Disease
    • Dental Caries
    • Bad Breath
    • Sensitive Teeth
    • Dry Mouth
    • Supernumerary Teeth
    • Bruxism
    • Tooth Loss
    • Impacted Tooth
  • More
    • Hyperthyroidism
    • Rhinitis
    • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
    • Thalassemia
    • Hepatitis
    • Sinusitis
    • Acromegaly
    • Health and Wellness
    • Achondroplasia
    • Diabetes Mellitus
    • Asthma
    • Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19)
    • Sleep Apnea
    • Tuberculosis
DiseaseFix – World's Largest Disease Information Center
Home » Brain and Neurological Conditions » Alzheimer's Disease » Top Reasons Behind Alzheimer’s

Top Reasons Behind Alzheimer’s

Tatheer Zehra Zaidi, M. PharmaBy Tatheer Zehra Zaidi, M. PharmaUpdated:April 23, 20215 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

causes of alzheimer’s disease

What Are the Causes of Alzheimer’s Disease?

The exact cause of Alzheimer’s is not known to researchers till date. In most of cases, death of brain cells occur as it is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. The cause of early onset of Alzheimer’s is related to genetic mutation and of late onset to the successive brain changes over the period of time. But scientists and researchers relate the causes to the most studied and tested hypothesis ‘amyloid cascade hypothesis.’ Therefore, it is assumed that the cause of the disease is related to a combination of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. Environmental and lifestyle factors are generally considered as risk factors for a person to get the disease and not as precise causes as such. Scientists observed plaque formation, nerve tangling and genetic mutation and inheritability as major causes that may cause Alzheimer’s.

Usually old people get AD but it is not related to age at all and is not considered as a result of the process of ageing. It occurs due to loss of brain cells and deterioration that may lead to damage of neurotransmitters (which help in communication of nerve cells in the brain). Damage of the brain cells and plaque formations with tangled fibres are usually seen in people upon brain examination.

Two main forms of nerve damage is related to gradual loss of the brain function in such people who have Alzheimer’s –
• Protein deposits known as plaques build up in the brain
• Nerve cells develop tangles (neurofibrillary tangles)

Plaques build up in brain:
Amyloid Cascade Hypothesis is based on plaques build up and its deposition in the brain. The deposition of beta-amyloid protein around brain cells occurs which results in the formation of plaques which block brain cells signalling and gradually damage and cause the death of brain cells. Scientists do not know the exact reason of formation of these plaques but one of the theories tells that normally occurring blood protein which is required for the transport of fatty substances in the body called ApoE (apolipoprotein E) is responsible for plaques formation in the brain. The form of ApoE is genetically determined in each person. There are various types of ApoE proteins present in our body and some of them are considered to be associated with higher risks of Alzheimer’s. It may be possible that certain types of ApoE damages the nerve cells. It is seen that people with high blood pressure and high cholesterol level are at greater risk of getting Alzheimer’s. It may be possible that ApoE in combination with other substances lead to plaque formation.

Nerve cell Tangles (Neurofibrillary or tau tangles):
Neuro-fibrillary tangles are made up of protein called tau protein which helps brain cell to communicate. Brain cells depend on tau proteins for internal support and transport nutrients and other essential materials inside the brain. The threads of tau proteins get twisted and tangled with each other forming nerve tangles which lead to death of some nerve cells making communication impossible and also damage to transport system that lead to death of brain cells eventually due to lack of nutrients.
When brain cells die, it causes the brain to shrink which then causes improper brain function and damage to the brain eventually. All these factors cause problems in intelligence, memory, language, and behaviour of a person. The plaques and tangles are not seen in people who do not have Alzheimer’s.

Genetic causes:
Mostly, Alzheimer’s disease occurs in old age after 60 years. Genetics and gene hereditary is considered as one of the main causes of the disease. Most of the people who have a family history of Alzheimer’s and whose siblings suffer from it are likely to get affected and develop the disease.

There are two types of genes which determine whether a person may develop Alzheimer’s:

Risk genes: This gene increases the risk of developing the Alzheimer’s but it does not necessarily cause the disease. Researchers found that the late onset of Alzheimer’s is related to apoprotein E gene. This gene has various forms. Mutations in any of these genes may lead to early onset of the disease. Types of APOE genes are APOE-e2, e4-3 and e-4. Early onset of Alzheimer’s is related to gene APOE e-4. A person who carries a single copy of it is at a risk of getting the disease and if the person carries two copies, he is at a higher risk of getting the disease. Early onset of Alzheimer’s occurs between the age of 30s and mid 60s in a person and accounts for less than 10% of all people suffering from it. People carrying APOE e-4 gene doesn’t mean they will always get Alzheimer’s. Even people who do not have this gene may also get this disease.

Deterministic genes: These genes always cause Alzheimer’s if inherited by a person. Variations in gene coding of any of these three proteins – amyloid precursor protein (APP), presenilin – 1 and 2 (PS-1 and PS-2) lead to the development of Alzheimer’s directly. Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer’s Disease (ADAD) or Familial Alzheimer’s Disease is a type of Alzheimer’s which is defined as dominantly inherited Alzheimer’s disease with pathological confirmations. People who carry these genes generally develop AD in their 40s or 50s. These gene variations are found in only few hundred families worldwide. Familial Alzheimer’s truly accounts for only 1% of cases around the world.

Tatheer Zehra Zaidi, M. Pharma
  • LinkedIn

Tatheer Zehra Zaidi is a clinical pharmacist and pharmacologist with a master’s degree in pharmacy practice. She aims to deliver a positive contribution in the field of healthcare and research. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Jamia Hamdard New Delhi and then joined Spirant Communication Private LTD as a Medical content writer. Currently she is working at Maxinov Solutions Private LTD as a research associate and is associated with DiseaseFix as a medical content writer. Tatheer’s areas of interest include clinical research, clinical trial disclosure, and pharmacovigilance.

Follow-Up Reads

Early Signs of Dementia

7 Surprising Early Signs of Dementia

November 8, 2022

Common Indications that You Might Have Alzheimer’s Disease

April 25, 2021

Alzheimer’s Disease – Advance Planning and Care

April 25, 2021

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Best Practices for staying Healthy: Strategies & Tactics
doctor with mask Best Practices for staying Healthy

Treatment for COPD in the Elderly Explained

By Kapil Sharma5 Mins Read

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common and debilitating condition that affects the lungs,…

Lemon Juice Glass

Top 10 Home Remedies to Pass a Kidney Stone in 24 Hours

February 20, 2023
Runny Nose

Spike in H3N2 Influenza Cases in Delhi-NCR

February 16, 2023
Newborn child

Healing From a Stillbirth or Infant Loss: A Guide for Parents

February 14, 2023
Latest Posts

Unveiling Locdoc!

June 8, 2023
Exposed nerves in teeth

Exposed Nerves in Teeth: Causes and Prevention

June 7, 2023
Nonsurgical nose job

The Pros and Cons of Non-Surgical Nose Jobs: What You Need to Know

June 7, 2023
Medicine pills

Fentanyl: What You Need to Know About This Deadly Opioid

June 7, 2023
Brillia Helped Child During Class

How Brillia Has Helped My Child Focus During Class

June 6, 2023
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
About Us
About Us

DiseaseFix is primarily known as an online publisher of disease-centric medical information related to human health and well-being. The information is published as disease modules accessible to users from across the world free of cost.

Email Us: contact@diseasefix.com

Our Picks
Breast Cancer

Moving Forward After Breast Cancer Surgery

December 30, 2022
Five Things Patients Experience Immediately After Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Five Things Patients Experience Immediately After Breast Cancer Diagnosis

April 23, 2021

Real Life Experiences About Coping With Cancer

April 22, 2021
Company

Disease Index

About Us

Our Team

Privacy Policy

Disclaimer

Contact Us

Write For Us

 

Facebook Twitter YouTube
© 2023 Diseasefix. All rights reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.