Megha Guntuku

What are the environmental factors that can contribute to Alzheimer's and how can treatments be designed to address them?

Started Apr. 27, 2023

Abstract or project description

As of 2023, it is estimated that there are 6.7 million people who are 65 or older that have Alzheimer's in America. Alzheimer's is said to be caused by the misfolding of proteins and the accumulation of these non-functional aggregates in the brain. There have been some genes related to Alzheimer's but they don't account for all cases suggesting that environmental factors have a substantial effect on the onset of the disease. Categories of environmental factors that are related to Alzheimer's include education, pre-existing disease, and lifestyle. This review aims to summarize the findings within these three categories. A greater understanding of these factors could allow for better preventative approaches to address the disease as well as treatment.