What is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the leading causes of dementia and the sixth leading cause of death in elderly populations of the USA (Alzheimer’s Association, 2016). In general, it can be characterized as a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. After being diagnosed with the disease, one can expect to see a gradual decrease in neurological function beginning in the areas crucial to learning, speech, and memory. As neurological function decreases, brain function deteriorates as a direct result. This loss of cells can spread to the rest of the brain, leading to fatal consequences as the statistics show.
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A comment I have heard many times from friends and family is to assume that one has some type of progression into Alzheimer’s disease when one suddenly cannot remember something. Forgetting things is common. It happens all the time, regardless of how old we are. What sets Alzheimer’s disease apart from common memory loss (or slips) is that post-mortem, those that have been afflicted with the disease have a build-up of senile plaques, tangles, and dead neurons. In its early stages, people may find they have difficulty recalling newly acquired information. It begins as more than just forgetfulness; it is a disruption in the ways we regularly learn. I can only imagine how confusing it must feel to be told that I had forgotten something when I cannot bring to mind what I had forgotten, especially if it concerns something that had just happened.
The exact causes of Alzheimer’s disease remain uncertain; many scientists continue to examine the neurological basis for the disease’s deteriorating effects on the human brain. When most people hear the word “brain,” they associate it with processes such as conscious thoughts, decision-making, and learning. All of these brain-empowered processes are the byproducts of the workings of a complex network of neurons within our brains. Neurons are specialized for cell-to-cell communication across synapses, or gaps, between the receiving and output ends of neighboring neurons. Neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers, carry the signals sent from one neuron to the next (Hartwell et al, 2011). This system of communication is disrupted in brains suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. It should also be considered that the plaques may be neurotoxic, meaning they may be destructive to brain tissue. If the problem lies within the neurons, it is worth exploring the possibility of the plaques and tangles as a contributing or primary player in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The lab work I discuss here focuses on the plaques.
