Alzheimer’s Disease: Genetic Links and Environmental Risk Factors

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, irreversible, and degenerative brain disorder. It has been associated with the mutation of the APP, PSEN1, and PSEN genes, which results in the excessive production of toxic proteins, and the APOE has been identified as a risk factor to the development of the disease (National Institutes of Health, 2018). The Down Syndrome, which results from the existence of an extra copy of each of the 21 chromosomes has been identified as a risk factors to the incidence of the alzhemeimer’s diseases. The role of the extra copies of the APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2 on the excessive production of toxics as well as the increased significance of APOE gene explains the familial tendency of the alzheimer’s disease through the Down Syndrome (National Institutes of Health, 2018). An evidence-based conclusion on the familial tendency and effects of environmental factors is presented.