Alzheimer’s Disease: How To Define? (2)

When Alzheimer’s occurs, nerve cells generally die in areas of the brain, which are vital to memory and other mental abilities. Many believe that connections between the nerve cells become disrupted; someway, consequently resulting in lower levels of chemicals needed for transmitting signals in the brain. Disrupting these signals would weaken the thinking process of the patient, and may in any case partially explain the forgetfulness so common in Alzheimer’s patients.

Whilst Alzheimer’s disease is known usually occur after age of 60, there are younger people suffering from the condition too. The only exact symptom is the risk factor of Alzheimer’s disease continues to rise with age, though it is not considered to be the normal part of aging.

But will all of the elderly fall victim to this condition? What might be done to prevent it? It’s believed that there are quite a few factors brought into play, in regards to people contracting this disease. Age is, of course, most essential and the most regular risk factor; the numbers of people who have this disease seem to double every year, beyond the age of 65.

Family history is also play a role in whether or not a person may suffer Alzheimer’s. Those families who suffer from early-onset forms of Alzheimer’s disease tend to see a possibility of a heritable strain, whereas those who suffer from the more ordinary version of Alzheimer’s find it does not seem to be a matter of genetics. So far, the only risk factor has been actively mentioned in relation to the late-onset variety of Alzheimer’s is a gene that is known to create the protein, ApoE (apolipoprotein), a chemical responsible for helping to carry cholesterol in the blood. Extra studies are being carried out, checking to see the effects of education, diet, and environment and how this may also indicate an enlarged chance of the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

There has also been increasing proof that similar risk factors exist, between heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, low levels of vitamin foliate, and Alzheimer’s disease. For this reason, scientists continue their studies, optimistic that Alzheimer’s may prove preventable, or at least slowed, through the providing of exercises and healthy diet.