Although there is still no cure, researchers continue to develop a better understanding of what increases a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. A recent study analyzing 396 studies has even been able to identify ten risk factors that increase the probability of developing the disease.
These are the factors that the researchers identified and why they are associated with increased risk.
1. Educational level
A lower educational level is associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Previous evidence shows that the more time you spend in education, the lower your risk of developing dementia. Research that looked at the brains of people from different educational backgrounds also showed that people with more education had heavier brains. As you lose a third of your brain weight due to dementia, a heavier brain can make it more resilient.
2. Cognitive activity
Evidence shows that keeping our brains active can also fight dementia. Activities like word games stimulate your brain and can strengthen connectivity between brain cells. This connectivity breaks down into dementia.
This latest study shows that we must continue to keep our brains active, even in old age. Other studies agree that challenging our brains reduces our chances of developing dementia.
3. Hypertension in middle age.
Healthy hearts have long been linked to a healthy brain. Here, the current study indicates that high blood pressure (hypertension) in middle age increases the risk of Alzheimer’s.
Increased incidence of heart disease in those suffering from high blood pressure impacts the blood and the supply of nutrients to the brain. Interestingly, this association still exists even for those who have high blood pressure on their own. The bottom line is that the reduced blood supply to the brain is linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
4. Orthostatic hypotension
The study also highlighted orthostatic hypotension as a risk factor. This is when someone experiences low blood pressure when standing up after sitting or lying down.
Because the body cannot maintain sufficient blood supply to the brain during postural changes, this can have a long-term, debilitating influence on brain activity, as a result of lack of oxygen in the brain, increasing the risk dementia.
5. Diabetes
The study found that diabetes was associated with a higher incidence of Alzheimer’s. As diabetes makes our bodies unable to properly regulate insulin, this changes both the way our brain cells communicate and our memory function, both of which are altered in Alzheimer’s disease.
Insulin is essential, as it regulates the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins by helping blood glucose to be absorbed by the liver, fats, and muscles. Alzheimer’s disease appears to impair the brain’s ability to react to insulin.
6. BMI
A higher body mass index (BMI) in those younger than 65 years is related to an increased risk of dementia. The study suggests that a body mass index between 18.5 and 24.9 for those under 65, a healthy weight, in other words, may reduce the risk of dementia. However, being underweight in middle age and adulthood can increase the risk of dementia.
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A mixture of genetics, cardiovascular disease, and inflammation is believed to contribute to this association between BMI and dementia.
7. head injury
Head trauma in the past is a risk factor, and there is clear evidence that head trauma, such as a concussion, can contribute to the development of dementia. This link was first observed in 1928.
However, it is not clear whether single or repetitive traumatic brain injury is the contributing factor. It is clear that brain damage from head trauma is similar to that of dementia. This makes people more susceptible to further damage from dementia.
8. Hyperhomocysteinemia
High levels of the chemical homocysteine are a risk factor. Homocysteine is a natural amino acid involved in the production of our body’s defense mechanisms, including antioxidants that prevent cell damage.
Elevated blood homocysteine levels in people with dementia were first reported in 1998. Since then, studies have shown that lowering homocysteine levels can protect against dementia.
Animal studies suggest that elevated homocysteine levels damage brain cells by interfering with their energy production. Consuming more folic acid and vitamin B12 can lower homocysteine levels and can reduce the risk of dementia.
9. depression
People living with Alzheimer’s also often suffer from depression, although it is unclear whether depression causes Alzheimer’s or is just a symptom of the disease. However, a large body of evidence supports that depression is indeed a risk factor, as this latest study has found. Research has even indicated a link between the number of depressive episodes, especially ten years before the onset of dementia, and increased risk.
Depression increases the levels of harmful chemicals in our brain. An imbalance in these chemicals can lead to the loss of brain cells. This, along with the loss of brain cells in dementia, increases the likelihood of Alzheimer’s.
10. Stress
Finally, stress was identified as a risk factor. Long-term stress is directed at our body’s immune cells, which are important in keeping dementia at bay. In particular, the hormone cortisol is shown to contribute to stress and can affect memory. Aiming to reduce stress and cortisol levels, therefore, can reduce the chances of developing dementia.
This study offers a complex picture of how we can combat the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, as well as ten areas that scientists should focus on investigating in the future. Although the findings may seem bleak, there is some promise that many of these risk factors can be managed or modified through lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise.
