Causes & Risk factors

Age1

The risk of Alzheimer’s increases as we age. Approximately 10% of persons older than 70 years have significant memory loss, and more than half of these individuals have probable AD.

Family history2

Alzheimer’s disease runs in families. Anyone who has a parent or a sibling with Alzheimer’s is more likely to get it.

Genetic make-up1

Every human has 23 pairs of chromosomes which contain genes arranged in different sequences. Mutations in some genes have been linked with the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Some of these are:

  • Apolipoprotein E-e4 (APOE4)
  • Presenilin 1 (PSEN1)
  • Presenilin-2 (PS-2)
  • Amyloid precursor protein (APP)

References

  1. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 2010 Dec; 23(4): 213–227.
  2. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2012 Jul; 20(7): 10.1097/JGP.0b013e3182107e6a