The search for the cause of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been going on for decades. We do finally understand that it may result from a variety of triggers, and the development of the disease is not necessarily the same for each person.

Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic propose calling the path to AD "multipathology convergence to chronic neuronal stress," which means that a bunch of things get off track in your body and cause your brain's neurological system to become stressed and dysfunctional.

Now we have some idea about what things go off track that can send you down the path to developing AD. According to a study in the Annals of Neurology, when your blood (plasma) contains certain proteins that are markers for cardiovascular disease, heart failure mortality, and kidney disease, that's a big clue that your brain is also experiencing disruptions in healthy functioning.

It turns out that those plasma markers, even in people without diagnosable heart disease, reveal accumulating clumps of brain-disrupting tau proteins and neurodegeneration. The research also shows that those protein markers for increased risk of AD are in the plasma of people who are overweight and have visceral belly fat.

In some cases when they find those markers, the researchers can look down the road 25 years and know if you will develop AD.

The best way to cut your risk for AD? Make sure you protect your heart and kidney health, maintain a healthy weight and banish belly fat.