There is no scientific basis for the statement that “three kinds of people are prone to Alzheimer’s disease”. At present, the cause of the disease is still unclear, and it may be related to the accumulation of β-amyloid in the brain, tau protein over-phosphorylation, and ageing.
1. β-amyloid accumulation: at present, this hypothesis is the most classic theory in the pathogenesis, i.e., excessive deposition of β-amyloid in the brain can lead to a series of cascade reactions such as neuron loss and synaptic damage, thus causing Alzheimer’s disease.
2. Excessive phosphorylation of tau protein: this can affect the normal function of neurons in the brain, thus inducing Alzheimer’s disease.
3. Genetic abnormality: It is currently believed that if the number of APOEe4 alleles in the body is too high, it can lead to the production of more pro-inflammatory factors, oxidative stress, etc. leading to severe neurological damage, and thus more likely to suffer from this disease.
4. Ageing: The probability of developing the disease increases when the age of the patient is greater than 65 years old.
5. Gender: The risk of developing the disease is usually higher in women than in men.
6. Other risk factors: People with risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, diabetes, cerebrovascular disease, traumatic brain injury, peripheral arterial atherosclerosis, long-term smoking, and long-term exposure to chemicals such as pesticides are more likely to develop the disease.
The disease starts insidiously and progresses slowly, so it is recommended that people with attention, memory, and executive functioning disorders should consult a doctor in time for early diagnosis and treatment.