What are the Causes of Alzheimer’s Disease?
Despite years of studies and research, there seems to be no definitive answer why one person gets Alzheimer’s disease and another one doesn’t. No study has presented a definitive “cause” for Alzheimer’s Disease.
So far, only Older age and a gene variation have both been shown to create a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease. But those are the only two factors that have definitively shown such risk.
Many folks have guessed or put forth opinions about common causes for dementia. But for the medical world, opinions and guesses don’t count.
An article written by Health Day Reporter, Alan Mozes, at USNews states: “Although we are not dismissing the potential or important role that other major risk factors might play in the development of Alzheimer’s disease, at this time, with what we have currently, we cannot confirm any risk associations,” said study lead author Dr. Martha L. Daviglus, a professor of preventive medicine and medicine at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.
The subject arose when The U.S. National Institutes of Health convened a conference last spring to analyze 18 studies of potential risk factors, or possible causes of dementia such as poor eating habits, chronic illness, smoking or little exercise, and people who have Alzheimer’s disease.
Almost every day there is some new food to avoid or herb to ingest to prevent or delay the symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Coffee was touted as a benefit to delay Alzheimer’s by one study but deemed a cause of Alzheimer’s only a few weeks later by a different study. As I write this blog, I’ve found myself recommending a diet or quoting a new study, only to reverse myself a few months later when a new study arrives and contradicts a previous one.
That’s how progress is made. Studies, Tests, Research, etc. I understand that. Yet progress is slow when it comes to people with Alzheimer’s or Dementia; it’s difficult to get a speedy and accurate diagnosis. And once diagnosed, there’s no sure-fire medication that can positively slow the symptoms. And all this as the enormity of the disease looms just over the horizon as the baby boomer generation ages.
“What we’re talking about here is something that is going to affect so many Americans in the years to come,” said one expert, Catherine Roe, an instructor in neurology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. “In fact, there’s going to be an explosion in the next 50 years, because everyone is living longer in general,” she said.
An estimated 5.3 million Americans struggle with Alzheimer’s, a figure projected to grow as the country’s Baby Boomer population ages, the authors said. The disease is responsible for between 60 and 80 percent of dementia cases.
Roe agreed that “more quality research is needed,” but added that, “I don’t think it’s a worse situation than in any other field of research. This is difficult and challenging work. And it costs a lot of money at a time when there’s a funding crisis in science.”
Still, a sense of urgency should prevail, Roe said. “Today the Baby Boomers are starting to hit the age where Alzheimer’s comes into play,” she noted. “And it’s going to take a huge human toll and economic toll, if we don’t find a way to treat it or slow it down. So it’s very important that we do more and do it better.”
I think everyone who’s been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or Early Onset Alzheimer’s, or every caregiver who is caring for a family member or loved one all agree with that! It’s important that we do more and do it better for Alzheimer’s.
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The Family Guide to Alzheimer’s DVDThe Alzheimer’s Prevention Program
Until There’s a Cure
The Forgetting – A Portrait of Alzheimer’s
What a great article to get us all back on our realistic feet. And yes, we do need more research. But even more so we need to hold on to the reality check and spend some money and efford in ‘dealing with it’. The whole ‘Alzheimer treatment discussion’ increasingly looks like the ‘life-leads-to-death discussion’ with little or no acceptance (for now) that things are as they are and how can we increase the quality of life of both patients and caregivers. So lets do that, and leave some specialised scientists to explore the path to maybe cure, but meanwhile lets not forget the humans facing Alzheimer now.
I agree with you so much, Paul. And thank you for commenting on this topic.
Let’s take care of those who have dementia now. We can Do the Alzheimer’s Walk and other things to add funds for Research, but there are millions who already have Alzheimer’s dementia, Lewy Body dementia, Vascular dementia, so many who struggle along side their caregivers and families and those are the ones I hope to help.
~Sandy
I’m @tommytommytee18 on tweeter and
I’ve been living with Alzheimers for over 3 years and through the support from my Peers, our Carers and working with the professionals I’ve learnt to live well with dementia. I totally agree with the comments about living Now as this is something I preach about, some of Us don’t have time to wait for a ‘Cure’ but we do want to live well with it Now, and more importantly we want our Carers to live well with it other wise the world is going to need Carers for our Carers.k
Great Comment, Attitude and Perspective on dementia. You are living well Tommy! as all should who are caregivers or those working through dementia. I have COPD and have early signs of dementia from lack of oxygen. A different reason, but same outcome. I applaud you! It’s the attitude that keeps us happy and working and having a good life. Plus, the better we are, the better our caregivers are!
Best wishes and Thank you for commenting!
~Sandy