What causes Alzheimer’s Disease?

The exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is still unknown.  A lot of research is ongoing to better understand the mechanisms that cause the disease and how to best treat it.

What is known is that brain cell death and a decrease in important chemicals in the brain lead to the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.  Some theories include the formation of large sticky proteins in the brain (beta amyloid plaques) that overwhelm brain cells causing them to no longer function and die.

In general, the signs of Alzheimer’s disease develop slowly and worsen over time.  Often the disease process in the brain has already started well before the signs start to appear.

There are certain risk factors that may increase the potential for the development of Alzheimer’s disease, including:

• Increasing age

• Family history of dementia (parent or sibling)

• Serious trauma or injury to the head or brain

• Certain genetic abnormalities

Usually increasing age and genetics play the most important role in increasing the chance for an individual to get Alzheimer’s disease.