Causes of Alzheimer’s disease
There are several theories to explain the causes of Alzheimer’s disease. Some have to do with toxic agents such as, for example, various metals such as aluminum, lead, zinc and mercury. According to these theories these toxic substances cause neurons to degenerate and accumulate in the brain proteins that impede their operation and lead to death of brain cells or neurons. Studies indicate a relationship between aluminum and Alzheimer’s disease. However, these studies have not been confirmed and many experts in Alzheimer’s disease not accept them. Other proposed environmental agents are toxins in food and viral agents. However, studies carried out so far are inconclusive. Although studies thus far performed did not show a strong correlation between environmental toxins and Alzheimer’s disease has been found that rabbits fed a high cholesterol diet in combination with copper ions in drinking water, developed in the brain injury features of Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive impairment. In 2001 he published a study that compared residents of Nigeria who consumed a diet largely vegetarian and low in fat with Americans of African descent living in Indianapolis in Indiana who ate a diet high in fat. It was found that residents of Nigeria had a lower incidence of Alzheimer’s than residents of Indianapolis. Some researchers believe that high cholesterol levels, atherosclerosis and hypertension play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
Some studies suggest that injuries or blows to the head can start a process leading to Alzheimer’s disease.
A theory that had many followers until relatively recently was that Alzheimer’s disease has its origins in a deficiency of a neurotransmitter (a substance whose work is to send messages from one nerve cell to another) called acetylcholine. Although in the brain of patients with Alzheimer’s disease there are deficiencies of acetylcholine is now believed that these are not the cause of the disease but that these deficiencies are the result of brain damage caused by Alzheimer’s disease.
Two recent theories have to do with the accumulation of certain proteins in the brain. One of these is associated with abnormalities of a protein called tau that accumulates inside nerve cells forming what has been called neurofibrillary tangles. These are composed of protein fragments that block the functioning of the neuron.
The other is an abnormal protein called beta-amyloid. This is deposited outside the neurons producing what is known as senile plaques formed by this protein and dead cells or in the process of dying and other cells and neuritic plaques that are formed when some of these proteins accumulate products of dying nerve cells.
In the brain of all older people is a certain level of these changes. However, in patients with Alzheimer’s disease such amount is much higher. However, some researchers believe that the presence of these plaques and tangles may not be the cause of Alzheimer’s disease but a symptom of that which is caused by another process or a substance which is what actually causes the disease.
We also study the influence of this oxidative processes in the brain.
It is important to note that none of the theories we have mentioned excludes others. It is possible that some cases of Alzheimer’s disease are caused or triggered by any of these factors and other cases by others. It is also possible a combination of factors in the development of this condition.
Recently he has been paying attention to the influence of genetic factors. A recent study conducted at the University of Southern California suggests that genetic factors are more important than hitherto thought.
There is other evidence which has recently been paying attention suggests that Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes have a common origin. It has been discovered that during the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease insulin levels in the brain and the amount of this hormone receptors decline.