Alzheimer's Causes

No one is sure what the exact causes of Alzheimer's disease are. Millions of dollars have been spent researching the causes of Alzheimer's, but scientists still have only a vague understanding of the causes of Alzheimer's and how to treat the condition.

One of the most highly researched Alzheimer's causes is family history. In many cases, Alzheimer's patients will not have a family history of the condition, although if a family member has Alzheimer's, it is very likely that other family members will get it as well. While these two findings are not conflicting, it does make determining the exact causes of Alzheimer's a challenge.

Researchers believe that the physical cause of Alzheimer's is a breakdown in the areas of the brain that control communication, behavior and thinking. In many cases, Alzheimer's causes include the loss of neurotransmitters, which allows different parts of the brain to communicate. Many theories have suggested that certain minerals in the human diet, including aluminum are the cause of Alzheimer's and the breakdown of neurotransmitters. However, no research has confirmed this idea, and scientists have not issued a warning to avoid aluminum and other metals like zinc.

Dementia Causes

Dementia is one of the main symptoms of Alzheimer's, but it is not an Alzheimer's cause. Dementia often exists along with Alzheimer's and other conditions in which the neurotransmitters of the brain are damaged like Parkinson's and Huntington's. Unlike Alzheimer's causes, Dementia causes can often be pinpointed and have been well documented. In many cases, Dementia causes are known to be medical conditions, especially medical conditions that affect the way the brain functions. The conditions include stroke, blood vessel conditions and other conditions that affect the brain.

Substances can also play a factor in causing dementia. Chemicals that affect the brain, like alcohol and drugs, can all cause dementia by breaking down the neruopathways that the brain uses to communicate. As these pathways degenerate, the ability of the brain to function degenerates as well.

New causes for dementia are being discovered every year. Recent findings have reported that head trauma, especially repeated concussions and blows to the head, can cause dementia as the patient ages. Other causes include newly discovered mental diseases including Lewy body disease and Pick's disease, as well as infections of the spinal column and brain.