Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions in your body.
- It is a brain disorder
- It causes the brain cells to degenerate and die
- It causes you to lose your memory
- It brings big changes to your overall life.
According to the Mayo Clinic:
“Scientists believe that for most people, Alzheimer’s disease results from a combination of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors that affect the brain over time.
Less than 5 percent of the time, Alzheimer’s is caused by specific genetic changes that virtually guarantee a person will develop the disease.
Although the causes of Alzheimer’s are not yet fully understood, its effect on the brain is clear. Alzheimer’s disease damages and kills brain cells. A brain affected by Alzheimer’s disease has many fewer cells and many fewer connections among surviving cells than does a healthy brain.
As more and more brain cells die, Alzheimer’s leads to significant brain shrinkage. When doctors examine Alzheimer’s brain tissue under the microscope, they see two types of abnormalities that are considered hallmarks of the disease:
- These clumps of a protein called beta-amyloid may damage and destroy brain cells in several ways, including interfering with cell-to-cell communication. Although the ultimate cause of brain-cell death in Alzheimer’s isn’t known, the collection of beta-amyloid on the outside of brain cells is a prime suspect.
- Brain cells depend on an internal support and transport system to carry nutrients and other essential materials throughout their long extensions. This system requires the normal structure and functioning of a protein called tau.
In Alzheimer’s, threads of tau protein twist into abnormal tangles inside brain cells, leading to failure of the transport system. This failure is also strongly implicated in the decline and death of brain cells”.
The link below from the Mayo Clinic provides an abundance of information that describes different stages of Alzheimers Disease and how the brain works.
Hey, great post I’m glad that only less than 5 percent of Alzheimer’s is genetic because that mean my chances of getting it is low. Are there any correlations between between the disease that could imply another type of way to get the disease?
Hello Eliezer:
That’s a great question, thanks for asking. According to the Mayo Clinic ” Scientists believe that for most people Alzheimer’s Disease is caused by a combination of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors that affect the brain over time.
Prevention
Right now, there’s no proven way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Research into prevention strategies is ongoing. The strongest evidence so far suggests that you may be able to lower your risk of Alzheimer’s disease by reducing your risk of heart disease.
Many of the same factors that increase your risk of heart disease can also increase your risk of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. Important factors that may be involved include high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, excess weight and diabetes.
The Mediterranean diet — a way of eating that emphasizes fresh produce, healthy oils and foods low in saturated fat — can lower the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and stroke. This diet has also been associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Keeping active — physically, mentally and socially — may make your life more enjoyable and may also help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s”.
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