It’s highly accepted in the medical field that type 2 diabetes is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). But less accepted is the new theory of type 3 diabetes. This is a term which describes the hypothesis that Alzheimer’s disease may be triggered by insulin resistance and insulin-like growth factor dysfunction that occurs in the brain.
Alzheimer’s risk factors could be apparent as early as our teenage years, researchers reports. The risk factors disproportionately affect African Americans and include heart health problems, high cholesterol, diabetes, and insufficient quality of education.
In the case of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), the James Brown song is correct–this is a man’s world. Women are drastically more affected by the disease and its devastating effects, with over 60 percent of Americans currently diagnosed with AD being female. AD risk for women in their 60’s is double that of breast cancer. Women are also disproportionately the caregivers of those affected by AD, again totaling over 60% of care partners.
The number of Americans diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease has continued to grow at a dramatic rate. Currently, it is estimated that some 5.8 million Americans (of all ages) have Alzheimer’s disease. By and large, this is a disease of elderly individuals, with approximately 5.6 million of those diagnosed age 65 or older. To put that number into context, consider that this means 1 in 10 people age 65 or older suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. Further, it is instructive to note that there are some 200,000 individuals here in America under age 65 years who have also been given the diagnosis.
Former professional skateboarder Tony Hawk announced on social media this week that his 94-year-old mother, Nancy, had passed away from Alzheimer’s disease.
More commonly associated with treating bipolar disorder, microdoses of lithium may halt the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
I tried to kill my father for years. To be fair, I was following his wishes. He’d made it clear that when he no longer recognized me, when he could no longer talk, when the nurses started treating him like a toddler, he didn’t want to live any longer.
Over a third of people would want to know they had Alzheimer’s disease 15 years before symptoms show, according to new findings from Alzheimer’s Research UK.
A previously unknown gene and associated protein have been linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. By suppressing the protein, named Aggergatin by the researchers, it may be possible to slow down or prevent the development of the neurodegenerative disease.
We’ve heard from Alzheimer’s caregivers and patients that they want a way to navigate the disease and to plan for the future.
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