What
Causes AD?
Scientists do not yet fully understand what causes AD. There
probably is not one single cause, but several factors that
affect each person differently. Age is the most
important known risk factor for AD. The number of people
with the disease doubles every 5 years beyond age 65.
Family
history
is another risk factor. Scientists believe that genetics may play a role in many AD cases. For example, familial AD,
a rare form of AD that usually occurs between the ages of 30
and 60, can be inherited. However, in the more common form
of AD, which occurs later in life, no obvious family pattern
is seen. One risk factor for this type of AD is a protein
called apolipoprotein E (apoE). Everyone has apoE,
which helps carry cholesterol in the blood. The apoE gene
has three forms. One seems to protect a person from AD, and
another seems to make a person more likely to develop the
disease. Other genes that increase the risk of AD or that
protect against AD probably remain to be discovered.
Scientists
still need to learn a lot more about what causes AD. In
addition to genetics and apoE, they are studying education,
diet, environment, and viruses to learn what role they might
play in the development of this disease.
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Information
courtesy of Alzheimer's Disease Education & Referral
Center
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