The aberrant build-up of proteins mostly around brain cells is assumed to be the origin of Alzheimer's disease.

Amyloid is among the proteins involved, and deposits of it create plaques surrounding brain cells.

The other protein is tau, which forms tangles inside brain cells as deposits.

Although the actual cause of this process is unknown, scientists have discovered that it begins several years before symptoms manifest.

Chemical mediators (called neurotransmitters) essential in delivering messages, or signals, across brain cells diminish when brain cells become impacted.

In the brains of persons with Alzheimer's disease, one neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, is notably low.

Different parts of the brain diminish throughout time. The parts responsible for memory are frequently the first to be damaged.

Different parts of the brain are damaged in more rare types of Alzheimer's disease.

Rather than memory impairments, the initial signs may be visual or language problems.

Increased danger

Although the exact cause of Alzheimer's disease is unknown, some variables have been linked to an increased chance of getting the illness.

Age

The single most important aspect is age. After age 65, your chances of having Alzheimer's disease increase every 5 years.

Alzheimer's disease affects people of all ages, not only the elderly. One in every twenty patients with the disease is under the age of 65.

This is known as early-onset or young-onset Alzheimer's disease, and it can strike persons as young as 40.

Family background

Although the actual increase in risk is tiny, the genes you receive from your parents can add to your chance of acquiring Alzheimer's disease.

However, Alzheimer's disease is caused by the inheritance of a single gene in a few families, and the chances of the illness being handed on are significantly higher.

If multiple members of your family have suffered dementia over generations, especially at a young age, you may also want to seek genetic counseling to learn more about your risks of acquiring Alzheimer's disease later in life.

Down's syndrome is a genetic disorder.

Alzheimer's disease is more likely to affect people with Down's syndrome.

This is because the genetic abnormalities that produce Down's syndrome can contribute to the formation of amyloid plaques in the brain, which can contribute to Alzheimer's disease in certain people.

Injuries to the head

People who have had a serious head injury may be more likely to acquire Alzheimer's disease, but further study is needed.

Cardiovascular problems

Several lifestyle variables and disorders linked to cardiovascular illness have been shown to raise the risk of Alzheimer's disease, according to research.

Among them are:

• smoking
• obesity
• diabetes
• blood pressure problems
• elevated cholesterol levels
• You can lower your risk by doing the following:
• quitting smoking
• consuming a well-balanced diet
• maintaining a physically and psychologically active lifestyle
• if you ever need to lose weight
• decreased alcohol consumption

As you become older, you should get frequent health exams.

Other potential dangers

Furthermore, a recent study reveals that additional variables have a role, albeit this does not imply that these factors are primarily responsible for the disease.

Among them are:

• loss of hearing
• untreated depression (albeit depression is a sign of Alzheimer's disease)
• social isolation or loneliness
• sedentary behavior