title: Epidemiologic clues to the causes and routes to prevention of Alzheimer disease.
abstract: Identification of epidemiologic risk factors serves many purposes. These include 1) identification of high risk groups as potential targets for interventions; 2) identification of the candidate interventions (when the risk factor is susceptible to modification); and 3) suggestion of previously unsuspected causal mechanisms (when the risk relationship is unexpected and not readily explained by current causal theories). Two possible risk relationships will be discussed--one now well known and the other novel--that may provide a means of reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). I will also suggest a causal theory that encompasses these epidemiologic observations and other recent data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Hygiene, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Breitner
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004777:Environment; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory; D012307:Risk Factors; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D014810:Vitamin E; D001205:Ascorbic Acid