11 Common Illnesses That Have Been Linked to Alzheimer’s

Although we don't know a lot about the causes of Alzheimer's disease, the following conditions may raise your risk.

Understanding Alzheimer’s

Researchers are beginning to make breakthroughs in understanding this form of dementia, but actual treatments are proving elusive. That’s why it’s important to understand how other diseases may play a role in the risk of Alzheimer’s disease: If you have one of these conditions, you should, of course, treat and manage it if that’s an option. Will that help protect against dementia later in life? It’s possible.

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Anemia

This common condition is defined by a lack of red blood cells. These cells transport oxygen in the body, which is why one symptom of anemia is persistent fatigue. Other symptoms include weakness, shortness of breath, and cold hands and feet. The condition hits more than three million Americans, according to the American Society of Hematology. Some studies have found an association between anemia and an increased risk of dementia in older adults. Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean that one causes the other; they could share a risk factor. One of the most common causes of anemia is an iron deficiency, which can result from a poor diet, medical conditions, or blood loss; it may also be a side effect of certain medications.

The concern is that by depriving the brain of oxygen, anemia could increase the risk of a type of damage seen in people with Alzheimer’s. The results of an 11-year study published in the journal Neurology involving more than 2,500 people ages 70 to 79 suggested that those with anemia had a higher risk of developing dementia than people who didn’t have anemia. Overall, 23% of people with anemia developed dementia compared with 17% of those without it. Check out the 9 most powerful eating habits to reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s.

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Depression and anxiety

“There’s quite a lot of evidence that for people who are destined to develop Alzheimer’s dementia, sometimes the first thing you see is depression or anxiety,” explains Pierre Tariot, MD, director of the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. However, scientists say that these mood disorders may not be just a symptom of Alzheimer’s—they may actually be risk factors for developing the disease. Because depression and anxiety can elevate levels of the stress hormone cortisol, one theory is that chronically high levels of cortisol can damage the brain.

Interestingly, antidepressant drugs are being researched as a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s. “Certain antidepressants have anti-amyloid [a protein associated with Alzheimer’s] properties with enough credibility that there are two trials of antidepressants that aim to find out if we can derail the Alzheimer’s process with these drugs,” Dr. Tariot says. Make sure you know these 10 early signs of Alzheimer’s.

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Type 2 diabetes

The link between type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s is fairly strong, as this 2015 review published in Clinical Interventions in Aging demonstrates. “Diabetes is probably a risk factor for multiple reasons,” says Dr. Tariot. “Top of the list is that the disease leads to abnormal inflammatory responses in multiple organs—including the brain. Another reason is that the insulin-signaling pathway is also one of the pathways involved in the breakdown of amyloid. Finally, diabetes contributes to cerebrovascular disease [conditions that raise the risk of stroke], which is a significant factor for Alzheimer’s.”

Nearly 21 million Americans have diabetes, and an estimated 54 million more have prediabetes, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. But the high blood sugar associated with type 2 diabetes can be controlled with diet and lifestyle changes, as well as insulin and oral medication when necessary, to lower the risk. Read about more than 70 easy ways to prevent diabetes.

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Down syndrome

“The genetics are similar in Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s,” explains Elise Caccappolo, PhD, associate professor of neuropsychology at Columbia University Medical Center. “If people with Down syndrome grow old enough, they will develop Alzheimer’s.” The genetic mutation that triggers the syndrome also causes amyloid plaques—a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease—to build up in the brain over time. Learn about the stages of Alzheimer’s.

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Gum disease

Gingivitis and periodontitis—gum disease—indicate the buildup of harmful bacteria in your mouth, and they’re mobile: “These bacteria can travel to the heart and brain and can cause inflammation,” explains Rudolph Tanzi, PhD, a neurology professor at Harvard University and director of Massachusetts General Hospital’s Genetics and Aging Research Unit. Gum disease is extremely common; nearly half of all American adults have some form of it. Fortunately, it’s also easy to prevent (and treat). “Be religious about flossing your teeth,” says Tanzi. And get regular teeth cleanings and checkups every six months. Read up on the research breakthroughs regarding Alzheimer’s in 2019.

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Hearing loss

Hearing loss doesn’t appear to cause the physical brain changes that are characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease, but it may be responsible for—and accelerate—dementia, which could make Alzheimer’s symptoms even more severe. “Any significant sensory impairment is almost certainly going to magnify or exaggerate the consequences of any cognitive impairment,” Dr. Tariot explains.

One concern is that if someone’s hearing has been bad or failing for years, it could harm that person’s brain, he says. An 18-year study led by researchers at Johns Hopkins University and the National Institute on Aging found that the worse someone’s hearing loss was, the more likely they were to develop dementia. Make sure you know the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia.

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Herpes and other infections

Scientists are researching the connection between certain types of chronic infections, such as herpes, and Alzheimer’s disease. These researchers believe that the infections may accelerate the damage of Alzheimer’s by triggering chronic inflammation, according to research published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. While experts once thought the amyloid plaques found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease were cellular junk, they now theorize that the plaque may be the body’s protective response to infection. The more plaques the body produces—by repeated herpes outbreaks, for example—the greater a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s later in life.

“At age 50, 90 percent of the population carries HHVI, the herpes cold-sore virus,” says Tanzi. “If you get a cold sore now and then, don’t panic. But if you’re one of those people who get a cold sore every month or even more frequently, you might want to seek medical attention for antiviral drugs or other therapy.” Eventually, scientists hope to develop vaccines and drugs to fight these viruses and infections more effectively. Think about taking up these 15 activities that can slow down Alzheimer’s.

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High blood pressure

“Anything related to blood flow, including high blood pressure—in fact, anything you would see a cardiologist about—can be a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease,” says Caccappolo. That’s because cardiovascular disease can compromise the brain’s blood supply. High blood pressure—which as many as one in three American adults have—may damage the small blood vessels that supply brain cells with oxygen. New research published in the journal Neurology also indicates that older people whose blood pressure runs higher on average than their peers’ are more likely to develop tangles and plaques in their brains, both of which are markers of Alzheimer’s disease.

Be sure to get your blood pressure checked regularly: Your doctor can recommend lifestyle changes and medications that are an excellent way to help reduce your numbers. Check out 15 things neurologists do to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

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Obesity

Nearly two-thirds of American adults are now overweight or obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the excess weight is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and other cardiovascular problems—all of which increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive problems.

“If you’re overweight, not physically active, and you have the gene that predisposes you to Alzheimer’s, you’re going to have a higher probability of developing it,” says Stephen Rao, PhD, a neuropsychologist at Cleveland Clinic’s Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Increasing physical activity and losing even a relatively small amount of weight can help reduce your risk factors. Avoid these 16 everyday habits that seriously raise your risk of dementia.

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Sleep apnea

The exact incidence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the United States is unknown because it is so often undiagnosed, but the American Academy of Sleep Medicine estimates that at least 25 million Americans have OSA. Men are also more likely than women to have sleep apnea, according to a report in the journal American Family Journal—which is much worse than thunderous snoring. People who have sleep apnea can stop breathing numerous times throughout the night, disrupting oxygen flow to the brain and other organs.

One study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that older people with sleep apnea had much higher levels of amyloid-beta, the protein involved in plaque buildup in the brain. Another study found that people with irregular breathing during sleep showed signs of developing Alzheimer’s at an earlier age. Researchers believe that treating sleep problems could help prevent or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Find out the 16 things sleep doctors wish you knew about snoring and sleep apnea.

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Stroke

Research published in Alzheimer’s and Dementia found that about half of people with Alzheimer’s have evidence of strokes in their brains. And stroke is one of the contributing factors for developing Alzheimer’s. Some of the risk factors for stroke and Alzheimer’s disease overlap including hypertension, smoking, and diabetes, according to 2016 research in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

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Bonus: Vitamin deficiencies

Although it isn’t linked to Alzheimer’s, vitamin deficiencies and the disease are sometimes mistaken for each other. “A vitamin B12 deficiency can absolutely cause someone to look cognitively impaired,” says Dr. Tariot. “B12 deficiency is uncommon, but we do see it in people who chronically use [drugs that help reduce stomach acid].” Some research suggests vitamin D deficiency may raise the risk of developing Alzheimer’s or dementia later in life, reports the Mayo Clinic. Talk to your doctor about your diet, your prescriptions, and your risk of deficiency; blood tests can spot trouble. Now check out these 50 everyday habits that reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s.

Sources
Medically reviewed by Renata Chalfin, MD, on March 31, 2021

Beth Weinhouse, MS
Beth is an award-winning journalist who specializes in health and medicine. In her three-decades-long career, she’s been the executive medical director for Prevention magazine and held editorial roles with SELF, Physicians’ Life, Parenting, Redbook, RxRemedy, and Reader’s Digest. She was also the founding editor of Conceive Magazine, which, under her editorship, earned a Gold Folio award and was named one of the 50 Best Magazines in the country by The Chicago Tribune. As a healthcare writer, Beth’s work has appeared in dozens of national publications, including The Healthy, Family Circle, Glamour, Health, Ladies’ Home Journal, Real Simple, Parents, and many more. She’s also the co-author of Outrageous Practices, a book about gender bias in healthcare.