[ConcernedCitizen]

My mother's side has a history of Alzheimer's. ELI5 of the disease: the brain's version of tooth decay brought on by plaque essentially driving a wedge between teeth over time. Many things can cause Alzheimer's, but a more direct cause is the beta-amyloid protein.

"It is formed from the breakdown of a larger protein, called amyloid precursor protein. One form, beta-amyloid 42, is thought to be especially toxic. In the Alzheimer’s brain, abnormal levels of this naturally occurring protein clump together to form plaques that collect between neurons and disrupt cell function. Research is ongoing to better understand how, and at what stage of the disease, the various forms of beta-amyloid influence Alzheimer’s. - https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-happ...rs-disease