Alzheimer 's Disease (AD) is a neurological disease. It is a progressive memory loss with no cure. It is a form of dementia, starting as forgetfulness and confusion, then progressing into not knowing any family members or not remembering how to dress or function in daily life activities. It is a very sad disease that occurs in older people that affects their loved ones, too. I choose this disease because I have heard of multiple cases of people with Alzheimer’s and have seen several movies about people with Alzheimer’s. I am interested in learning more about this disease and how it occurs. I am interested in this disease because I aspire to be a Speech Language Pathologist and work with people who have memory loss and dementia. I love working
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According to “Alzheimer 's Changes the Brain,” “Alzheimer’s disease leads to nerve cell death and tissue loss throughout the brain. Over time, the brain shrinks dramatically, affecting all of its functions…the cortex shrivels up, damaging areas involved in thinking, planning and remembering. Shrinkage is especially severe in the hippocampus, an area of the cortex that plays a key role in formation of new memories. Ventricles (fluid-filled spaces within the brain) grow larger” (“Alzheimer 's Changes the Brain”). Alzheimer’s also causes the brain the shrink. “When doctors examine Alzheimer 's brain tissue under the microscope, they see two types of abnormalities: plaques and tangles. Plaques are clumps of a protein called beta-amyloid may damage and destroy brain cells in several ways, including interfering with cell-to-cell communication. Tangles occur because brain cells depend on an internal support and transport system to carry nutrients and other essential materials throughout their long extensions. This system requires the normal structure and functioning of a protein called tau” (Mayo Clinic Staff). Alzheimer’s results in a vast amount of cells, synapses, and neurons lost in the brain, so it affects multiple types of cells. Synapses are part of the brain that is needed for brain function and forming memories. It connects the neurons in the brain. The loss of synapses occurs at the beginning of Alzheimer’s disease. …show more content…
People who develop Alzheimer’s early in life usually get it because of past family members who had it. People who have immediate family with the disease are likely to have it. Alzheimer’s is more common in the older ages of human life. Owens, Farinella, and Metz stated that “Alzheimer’s affects approximately 13% of individuals over age 65 and possibly as many as 50% of those over age 85” (176). For the older aged Alzheimer’s, scientists believe it could be caused from lifestyle and environmental factors. It can also be caused by brain cell death. Scientists do not have an exact answer, but they are relying on the belief that the disease is caused by genetic or environmental
According to “Alzheimer 's Changes the Brain,” “Alzheimer’s disease leads to nerve cell death and tissue loss throughout the brain. Over time, the brain shrinks dramatically, affecting all of its functions…the cortex shrivels up, damaging areas involved in thinking, planning and remembering. Shrinkage is especially severe in the hippocampus, an area of the cortex that plays a key role in formation of new memories. Ventricles (fluid-filled spaces within the brain) grow larger” (“Alzheimer 's Changes the Brain”). Alzheimer’s also causes the brain the shrink. “When doctors examine Alzheimer 's brain tissue under the microscope, they see two types of abnormalities: plaques and tangles. Plaques are clumps of a protein called beta-amyloid may damage and destroy brain cells in several ways, including interfering with cell-to-cell communication. Tangles occur because brain cells depend on an internal support and transport system to carry nutrients and other essential materials throughout their long extensions. This system requires the normal structure and functioning of a protein called tau” (Mayo Clinic Staff). Alzheimer’s results in a vast amount of cells, synapses, and neurons lost in the brain, so it affects multiple types of cells. Synapses are part of the brain that is needed for brain function and forming memories. It connects the neurons in the brain. The loss of synapses occurs at the beginning of Alzheimer’s disease. …show more content…
People who develop Alzheimer’s early in life usually get it because of past family members who had it. People who have immediate family with the disease are likely to have it. Alzheimer’s is more common in the older ages of human life. Owens, Farinella, and Metz stated that “Alzheimer’s affects approximately 13% of individuals over age 65 and possibly as many as 50% of those over age 85” (176). For the older aged Alzheimer’s, scientists believe it could be caused from lifestyle and environmental factors. It can also be caused by brain cell death. Scientists do not have an exact answer, but they are relying on the belief that the disease is caused by genetic or environmental