How do cardiovascular risk factors affect the chances of acquiring Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), also known as senile dementia, is a neurodegenerative disorder with a strong genetic component that is found predominantly in the older population, affecting people over the age of 65 (making up about 16% of the world's population according to the United States National Institute on Aging). It is the most common form of dementia that is due to the death of brain cells and ultimately leads to memory loss. It does not have an effective cure and accounts for about 60 to 80% of the cases of dementia in the United States. Research studies suggest that Alzheimer’s disease has a strong genetic component. Alzheimer's disease was first considered a rare condition but gradually started being studied as one of the consequences of ageing. Due to this belief and the attached stigma, the research on Alzheimer's disease (causes, prevention and treatments) was aggressively delayed . However, recent research shows that environmental (modifiable) risk factors can also affect disease risk. Recent research studies conducted have called attention to how Type II Diabetes, Coronary heart disease surgeries and other cardiovascular factors directly relate to Alzheimer's disease. This review paper will discuss the different risk factors for Alzheimer's disease, including coronary heart disease, and strategies to minimise disease risk. The paper's goal is to raise awareness of the risks that can cause a lethal disease that has no proper cure and help bring attention to how genes, environmental factors and genes by environmental factors can increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease.