Modifiable, Non-Modifiable, and Clinical Factors Associated with Progression of Alzheimer's Disease

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Gerontology
• Genetics

Background:

• Extensive research exists on Alzheimer's disease (AD) development.
• Factors influencing AD progression remain less understood.
• Identifying progression factors is vital for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review literature on factors associated with Alzheimer's disease progression.
• To categorize these factors into modifiable, non-modifiable, and clinical groups.
• To identify factors consistently linked to cognitive and neuropathological decline in AD.

Main Methods:

• Literature search on PubMed for factors associated with AD progression.
• Categorization of 15 identified factors into modifiable, non-modifiable, and clinical.
• Analysis of study findings regarding the association of each factor with AD progression.

Main Results:

• Conflicting results were noted for most factors reviewed.
• Six factors showed consistent positive associations with AD progression across studies: malnutrition, genetic variants, altered gene regulation, baseline cognitive level, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and extrapyramidal signs.
• The precise influence of these factors on the rate of AD decline requires further investigation.

Conclusions:

• Several factors, particularly malnutrition, genetic variants, and clinical signs, appear consistently linked to Alzheimer's disease progression.
• Further research is needed to clarify the causal relationship between these factors and the rate of cognitive decline in AD patients.
• Interventions targeting modifiable factors associated with AD progression warrant consideration in therapeutic strategies.