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What are the risk factors for Alzheimer's disease?

Risk factors for Alzheimer's disease Early reviews identified over 20 risk factors associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) including age, familial inheritance, exposure to aluminium, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and associated co-morbidities such as vascular disease and infection. In the light of recent evidence, this review reconsid …

Why do some people get Alzheimer's disease in their 40s?

It’s not clear why, but people with this disorder often get Alzheimer's disease in their 30s and 40s. Head injury. Some studies have shown a link between Alzheimer's disease and a major head injury. Other factors. High cholesterol levels and high blood pressure may also raise your risk. SOURCE: Alzheimer's Association. © 2018 WebMD, LLC.

Is there a link between Alzheimer's disease and head injury?

Some studies have shown a link between Alzheimer's disease and a major head injury. Other factors. High cholesterol levels and high blood pressure may also raise your risk. SOURCE: Alzheimer's Association.

How does Alzheimer's disease affect the brain?

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia and typically manifests through a progressive loss of episodic memory and cognitive function, subsequently causing language and visuospatial skills deficiencies, which are often accompanied by behavioral disorders such as apathy, aggressiv …

Why do people get Alzheimer's in their 30s?

Some studies have shown a link between Alzheimer's disease and a major head injury. Other factors. High cholesterol levels and high blood pressure may also raise your risk.

How old do you have to be to get Alzheimer's?

So far, research has linked the disease with: Age. Your risk for Alzheimer's goes up as you get older. For most people, it starts going up after age 65. Gender.

What are the flaws in the brain?

When a person has Alzheimer’s, their brain changes. It has fewer healthy cells, and it gets smaller over time. Most of the time, the brain cells also form two types of flaws: 1 Neurofibrillary tangles. These are twisted fibers inside brain cells that keep nutrients and other important things from moving from one part of the cell to another 2 Beta-amyloid plaques. These are sticky clumps of proteins that build up between nerve cells instead of breaking down like they do in healthy brains.

What happens to the brain when you have Alzheimer's?

When a person has Alzheimer’s, their brain changes. It has fewer healthy cells, and it gets smaller over time. Most of the time, the brain cells also form two types of flaws: Neurofibrillary tangles.

What are the effects of plaques and tangles on the brain?

Plaques and tangles damage the healthy brain cells around them. The damaged cells die, and the brain shrinks. These changes cause the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, such as memory loss, speech problems, confusion, and mood swings. Brain cells affected by the disease also make lower amounts of the chemicals called neurotransmitters ...