The Cause Of Alzheimer's Disease

Imagine the stereotypical elderly person, what image comes to mind? Is it an ancient grandpa who has his pants pulled all the way up to his chest, and is standing, he can’t remember why he’s at the grocery store right as he’s about to pay for his groceries, holding up the whole line? Psychology can’t quite explain the reasoning about his pants, but what it can do is explain the most likely reason why he can’t remember why he’s at the grocery store. The cause could be that the old gentleman has Alzheimer’s disease, or often referred to as “old-timers disease”. Alzheimer’s disease is the continued deterioration of the cells inside the brain, which causes a considerable loss of memory, and eventually causes a severe interference in everyday activities. …show more content…
Advance cases of Alzheimer’s disease show that their entire brain had severe cell deterioration. People with advanced Alzheimer’s disease have a shriveled cortex, as well as an extremely shrunken hippocampus. The ventricles of the brain also increase largely in size, leaving less space for brain tissue. There are also a considerably less amount of neurons and synapses. Also, there a buildup of abnormal protein clusters between nerve cells, along side a build of twisted strands of protein called tangles building. These two protein buildups are thought to be a major cause of tissue death in the brain. These proteins eventually spread all throughout the brain, impairing most major functions of the …show more content…
According to the research done by the Mayo Clinic staff treatments can be prescribed in two categories, drugs, and lifestyle improvement. The two types of drugs that Mayo Clinic says helps with Alzheimer’s are a group of drugs, called cholinesterase inhibitors, and Memantine. Cholinesterase inhibitors are a group of drugs that, when taken, boost certain chemicals that cause cell communication in the brain, these are meant for earlier cases of Alzheimer’s. The second drug is called Memantine, and is meant for moderate to severe cases of Alzheimer’s, it “works in another brain cell communication network and slows the progression of symptoms” (Treatments and drugs). The other category is simply a collection of lifestyle improvements, such as creating “a safe and supporting environment”, as well as maintaining proper exercise and nutrition. The Mayo Clinic stated that, “establishing and strengthening routine habits and minimizing memory-demanding tasks can make life much easier” (Treatments and drugs). Researching, and writing about Alzheimer’s disease has indefinitely broadened my own scope of knowledge of human behavior, as well as abnormal behavior. Although Alzheimer’s is a harsh disease, with appalling outcomes, it is a fascinating disease, and is an educational experience worth learning about. Next time you see a lost, and absent minded old