Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by progressive dementia and is potentially fatal within five to ten years after onset. AD clinically manifests itself via insidious loss of memory along with cognitive and speech impairment, cripplingly affecting the patient’s ability to perform day to day activities. Around 46 million people worldwide live with some form of dementia. A survey conducted in 2014 showed that around 5.8 million Americans, mostly over the age of 65, were affected by this disorder. This number has only increased in recent years and is expected to triple in the next 30 years. Not far behind heart disease and cancer, AD is the third leading cause of death and around 500,000 new incidents are expected this year [1]. A report from 2017 stated that about $260 billion dollars are dedicated to health care research for this disorder alone [2].
Dominantly inherited Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of the disorder, is caused by a mutation in the Amyloid Precursor protein (APP) gene which leads to high beta-amyloid levels in the brain among other areas. In addition to the beta-amyloid plaques, lesions from repeatedly phosphorylated tau and resulting loss of synapses tops the list of AD characterizations. It is believed to affect numerous other metabolic pathways distinctive to the well-studied amyloid pathway that eventually aid in disease development. AD was also an intriguing and commonly misunderstood disorder due to the several different mutations that result in its onset. The main risk factors for AD are age, family history, genetics and other factors like head or brain injury. Research shows that older African Americans are two times more likely to get AD than older whites. During the 1960s, exposure to aluminum was thought to cause AD and was of high concern as the metal is found in cookware, antacids, cans, foil and deodorants! However, studies since then have shown no such correlation.
- James BD, Leurgans SE, Hebert LE, Scherr PA, Yaffe K, et al. Contribution of Alzheimer disease to mortality in the United States. Neurology. 2014; 82:1045– 1050.
- AssociationAssociation.Alzheimer’sassociationreport2017Alzheimer’sdisease facts and figures. Alzheimer’s & Dementia. 2017; 13:325–373
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