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

A review article discussing the environmental and lifestyle factors and their effects on the onset of Alzheimer's Disease.

Abstract

The mystery of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has continued to puzzle scientists studying this neurodegenerative disorder. While over 6 million Americans have been diagnosed with the disease, the underlying etiology of AD is still unknown. One hallmark pathology of AD is the accumulation of extracellular proteins, including amyloid beta, in the central nervous system. The precise mechanisms underlying the accumulation of these proteins have yet to be discovered, however studies have shown 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, alcohol, viral infection, and sleep. While there has been much focus on genetic factors that may contribute to the development of AD, the effects of environmental factors have long been ignored. Interestingly, the data reviewed in this article highlights the fact that many lifestyle factors have been linked to the onset and progression of AD.