Thursday, May 16, 2013

How Does Alzheimer's Disease Spread?

Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative form of dementia which occurs as people age, usually after the age of 60. Alzheimer's is characterized by decreased mental function and intellectual ability, decreased social awareness and overall mental acuity. In the later stages, Alzheimer's usually leads to frequent confusion about your surroundings, and the inability to properly care for yourself. Alzheimer's is caused in the brain, when healthy brain cells become damaged and die. Protein buildup in the brain tangles in the support structure of the brain can lead to Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's disease originates in the body of the affected person, meaning it cannot be spread from person to person like a virus or bacteria. Interacting with a person that has Alzheimer's will not increase your likelihood of getting the disease.

The only way Alzheimer's can be said to spread is by heredity. Having a parent, grandparent, brother, sister or other close relation with Alzheimer's increases the likelihood that you may be more likely to get Alzheimer's. The exact genetic link in Alzheimer's is not known, and the risk of getting Alzheimer's even when you have a close relation is only moderately higher than if you have no close relations with the disease. Similar to cancer, Alzheimer's disease is a problem that arises spontaneously inside the body and is not necessarily spread from one person to another. On the other hand, there are a number of risk factors that can lead to an increased likelihood of contracting Alzheimer's.

Risk Factors

Just like alcohol consumption and tobacco can increase the risk of cancer, various risk factors can imply increased likelihood of developing Alzheimer's. Perhaps the strongest risk factor for Alzheimer's is age. According to the Mayo Clinic, almost 50 percent of people above the age of 85 experience Alzheimer's to some degree. Higher levels of education and the use of the intellect may reduce the onset of Alzheimer's. Cognitive impairment early in life tends to increase the likelihood that Alzheimer's will onset. Certain risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes, can increase the risk of Alzheimer's.