Risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease

Are you aware of the factors that increase your chances of developing Alzheimer’s? If you don’t know, several factors can lead to Alzheimer’s disease which is a chronic disease that degrades your brain cells and makes you lose your neurological capabilities. As it progresses over time, brain cells start to die. Any person is only going to live for 4 to 5 years after diagnosis. That’s why identifying and preventing the risk factors is essential for a good and healthy life. Log on to www.doralhw.org for a consultation.

Keep reading this article to learn about the risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological disease that affects brain cells and makes them lose their functionality over time. Brain cells start to degenerate and over time they get destroyed completely which can lead to death. It is the 6th commonest cause of death in the US. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this disease. People with treatment can live up to 10 years or longer. Symptoms usually begin with memory loss, change in behavior and thinking patterns, personality changes, and later not being able to speak, walk, talk, breathe, and complete dependance even for everyday activities.

While the cause is unknown, the best way to prevent this disease is by preventing its risk factors.

Risk factors that increase your chances of Alzheimer’s disease

Recent studies show several risk factors that increase the chances of getting this disease, including:

1. Age: The biggest factor that can lead to Alzheimer’s disease is age. Most people who are 65 or above develop Alzheimer’s. But it does not mean that younger people do not develop it. People can develop Alzheimer’s in their 30s, 40s, or even 50s. The main reason behind this is, as we age our body starts losing its functionality slowly. This causes protein build-up in brain cells which hampers their communication/connection with each other, as a result, the chances to develop Alzheimer’s increase. Although age is a risk factor if you manage a good lifestyle, you reduce your chances of Alzheimer’s.
2. Genetics: Gene mutations cause 1% of cases of Alzheimer’s. Carrying one copy of that gene from one parent might not affect you. But if you inherit the defective genes from both parents, it increases the risk of Alzheimer’s 6 to 9 times.
3. Lifestyle: This is the major risk factor that you can manage. If you have a good lifestyle including eating balanced food, exercising regularly, getting enough rest, and reducing your stress (by stress coping techniques) chances of developing Alzheimer’s can be reduced. However, not many people lead a healthy life, instead, they develop habits of eating processed food, alcohol, drug abuse, and smoking which increases the risk of Alzheimer.
4. Diabetes: According to a recent study, diabetes increases the chances of Alzheimer’s. Because when you have diabetes, your body is not able to use insulin properly. As a result, your brain cells are not able to communicate and perform memory functions, both things happen in Alzheimer’s disease. Insulin is essential because it helps to metabolize carbohydrates, fats, and protein and produces and helps to circulate glucose in the body. Any problems with insulin disrupt the brain cell’s ability to communicate. Study shows that 3% of people with Alzheimer’s in the US also have diabetes.
5. Poor education and economic conditions: One study shows that 7% of people who have low education or work in a field that doesn’t require too much brain utilization develop Alzheimer’s. It is also evident the longer people spend time in education, the lower the risk of developing dementia. Research shows that people who are more educated have heavier brains. If you develop dementia, one-third weight of your brain will decrease due to the death of neurons. A heavy brain may give more resilience in this matter.
6. Obesity: Higher BMI (Body Mass Index) or obesity can increase the chances of developing dementia. Obesity increases the risk of diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, etc.; it can also harm the blood vessels that are associated with brain cells. A study shows that people who have a healthy weight before 65 have a lower chance of developing dementia. However, people who are overweight or obese before 65 have a considerable risk of developing dementia. 7% of the US population who have Alzheimer’s suffer from obesity too.
7. Depression: Those who suffer from depression have a high chance of developing Alzheimer’s- 15% of Alzheimer’s patients suffer from depression too. As depression increases, the harmful chemicals in your brain create an imbalance which leads to loss of brain cells. Research also shows that people who have more depressive episodes are more likely to develop dementia, which can increase the chances of Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s is a dangerous neurological disease that affects your brain cells. As there is no cure, treatment only helps to improve its symptoms. So, you must practice maintaining good health and lifestyle to prevent the risk factors that can lead to Alzheimer’s.

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