"What Causes Alzheimer's Disease? Is It The Age Factor, Genetic Make Up, Brain Damage Or Estrogen?"

Scientists still don't fully understand what causes Alzheimer's disease, but a great deal of research is being conducted around the world, and a lot of progress has been made, particularly in the past 5 years.

The research into the causes and possible cures are very important areas of research. Understanding the causes should lead to more effective, targeted treatments and additional options for treating the disease in the future.

At this stage, scientists generally agree that there is unlikely to be a single clear cause for Alzheimer's.

What is clear is that Alzheimer's develops as a result of a very complex cascade of biological processes that take place over many years inside the brain. There are some major hypotheses that seem to revolve around two factors: genetic or hereditary and a complex environmental interaction.

As one of the causes, scientist identify three mutations on chromosomes 1, 14, and 21 and possibly chromosomes 10 and 12.

It is in the abnormalities in the brain that result in massive atrophy of the brain's neurotransmitters, nerves and neurons. From these stem the malfunctions that begin with short term memory loss to sever impairment to memory and the loss of motor skills and other normal bodily functions.

Can Brain Damage Cause Alzheimer's?

An abnormally large deposit of protein (beta amyloid) in the brain causes the massive atrophy. This protein deposit often disrupts the communication between nerve cells and cause damage to the brain, leading to development of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.

It has been noted that people who suffer a head injury exhibit high levels of amyloid deposit in the brain. A positive link between this amyloid deposit and dementia has also been made. Thus brain damage as a result of head injury may also be one of the causes of Alzheimer's disease. As are head trauma due to vascular damage from such diseases as stroke, high blood pressure, atherosclerotic disease, and diabetes mellitus.

Estrogen

There are a higher percentage of women who develop Alzheimer's than men. This led to speculations that estrogen, a hormone that is released only by women, may be one of the causes of Alzheimer's disease. But there is no proof as of yet.

Alzheimers Disease Facts