Question

Is Alzheimer’s disease an autoimmune disease?

Answer 1

Autoimmune disease:

1. An autoimmune disease is a medical condition that occurs because of an abnormal immune response to a functioning body part.
2. Our immune system protects us from infection and disease.
3. But if we have an autoimmune disease, our immune system attacks healthy cells in the body by mistake.
4. Some of them are inherited from families, while some may be triggered by infections or other environmental factors.
5. Some common autoimmune diseases are multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus.

Alzheimer’s:

1. Alzheimer’s is not an autoimmune disease.
2. It is a degenerative brain disease, which causes the brain to shrink and the brain cells to die.
3. It is caused because of complex brain changes after undergoing cell damage.
4. A gradual build-up of atherosclerosis in arteries of the brain over many years is the reason for the eventual onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

So, Alzheimer's disease is not an autoimmune disease.