What is the main cause of Alzheimer's?

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia — a group of brain disorders that cause the loss of intellectual and social skills. In Alzheimer's disease, the brain cells degenerate and die, causing a steady decline in memory and mental function. read more

Although the genes that cause "familial Alzheimer's" are rare, their discovery has provided important clues that help our understanding of Alzheimer's. All of these genes affect processing or production of beta-amyloid, the protein fragment that is the main component of plaques. read more

The number of people with the disease doubles every 5 years beyond age 65. About one-third of all people age 85 and older may have Alzheimer’s disease. The causes of late-onset Alzheimer’s, the most common form of the disease, probably include a combination of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors. read more