Despite the prevalence and toll of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease—the most common type, which begins after age 65—causes of the disease remain only partly understood. Is it genes? Lifestyle? Environment?
Current scientific understanding says it’s a combination of these factors, but we still don’t understand exactly how they interact to affect someone’s risk of developing the disease.
Research indicates that more than 80 genetic variants might have a role in someone’s susceptibility to late onset-Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD), and twin studies suggest that between 60-80% of cases are heritable. But not everyone who has LOAD risk genes develops the condition, and some people without risk genes do. Further complicating matters is that risk genes seem to have different effects across racial and ethnic groups, and environmental exposures can amplify or lessen the role of risk genes…
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