Toxic Environmental Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s Disease: A Systematic Review

A l z h e i m e r ’s d i s e a s e ( A D ) i s a n i r r e v e r s i b l e degenerative brain disorder that affects memory, intellectual ability, and other cognitive functions. AD is the most common form of dementia and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. The 2015 World Alzheimer Report showed that approximately 47 million people have AD or related dementias worldwide. As populations continue to age, the number of persons living with dementia, including AD, is expected to rise to over 130 million by 2050 this increase will particularly affect countries with a fastgrowing elderly population. Individuals aged 60 years and above are projected to constitute a fifth of the world population over the next three-four decades, and more than 75% will be living in Asia, Latin America or Africa. Despite the current epidemiology of AD and its economic and public health impacts, the cause of the disease remains unknown.