Are You At Risk For Getting Alzheimer’s Disease

Introduction
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive condition that damages areas of the brain involved in intelligence, memory, behavior, judgment, and language. It is the most common form of mental decline in older adults. Alzheimer’s gets worse over time, but the course of the disease varies from person to person. Some people may still be able to function relatively well until late stages of Alzheimers disease. Others may lose the ability to do daily activities in earlier stages. Over time, Alzheimer’s disease causes severe mental and functional problems and eventually results in death.

Causes
Scientists do not yet fully understand the causes of Alzheimer’s disease. There probably is not one single cause, but several factors that affect each person differently.

Recent studies indicate that amyloid beta protein may cause Alzheimer’s disease. In healthy people, this protein can cross the blood-brain barrier (the wall of blood vessels that feed the brain and regulate the entry and exit of brain chemicals) and leave the brain. In people with Alzheimers disease, amyloid beta protein can’t pass through that barrier. As...