Proteins that Potentially Predict Alzheimer’s Disease
A set of proteins in blood could be predictive for the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease
Gray hairs and fading memory
Every coin has two sides.
Modern medicine and healthcare have given us a lot. Together, they have prevented a lot of suffering and they allow us to improve the quality of life for many people.
They have also caused the average life expectancy to rise. As a result, the elderly (>65 years of age) are the most rapidly growing demographic group globally. This too, of course, is a good thing.
But, a major worry about this growing ‘gray tide’ is that it might become a substantial healthcare burden. One of the heavy parts of that burden is Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain condition leading to various cognitive, memory, and behavioral problems. There are genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, with APOE being a major one. A specific version of this gene, APOEε4, is associated with a significantly increased risk for Alzheimer’s.
But genes are are only part of the story. Lifestyle factors matter too, regardless of genetic predisposition. Exercise —…
