Investigating the Environmental Causes of Alzheimer’s Disease; a narrative review

Abstract

The mystery of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has continued to puzzle scientists studying the neurodegenerative disorder. While over 6 million Americans have currently been diagnosed with the disease, the underlying etiology of this condition has yet to be elucidated. One hallmark pathology of AD is the accumulation of extracellular proteins, one of which being amyloid beta, in the central nervous system. The precise mechanisms underlying the accumulation of these proteins have yet to be discovered, however studies show that certain environmental factors may play a key role in the development of the disorder. The following article reviews recent scientific literature demonstrating that various environmental agents may be linked to the onset of AD. The environmental agents reviewed here include aluminum exposure, laxative usage, and a history of viral disease. While there has been much focus on studying genetic factors that may contribute to the development of AD, the effects of environmental factors are often not considered. These environmental factors have been shown to play a key role in the onset of AD. Interestingly, the data reviewed in this article highlights the fact that many lifestyle factors have been linked to the progression of AD.