Alzheimer's Disease Analysis

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Alzheimer’s is a disease that affects the nervous system and structure of the brain. It causes major cognitive and behavior impairment. According to Gene Alexander (2014), Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia. “Dementia occurs in a number of brain diseases where the impairment in cognitive abilities represents a decline from prior levels of function and interferes with the ability to perform routine daily activities” (Alexander 2014). People who are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease loose a lot of their memory. They have trouble remembering past events and learning new information (Alexander 2014). As aforementioned, it affects cognitive abilities such as language. As the disease gets worst, language starts to become a problem. …show more content…

A neurodegenerative disease is when the neurons in the brain are destroyed after birth and can not be replaced (Montine, Alvord, Shaw 2014). Neurons are important specialized cells that release neurotransmitters throughout the body, as a form of communication. Neurons branch out into the Peripheral (PNS) and Central Nervous System (CNS). It is important that the neurons conduct impulses in order to send the neurotransmitters to the next neuron. However, in Alzhiemer’s, there is a malfunction between the communication of the neurons. According to Alexander (2014), These neurochemical systems are responsible for the transfer of information between neurons, called the synapse, which are important for cognitive and behavioral functions. When the synapse is blocked, or there are abnormalities within the ion channels, that’s when Alzheimer’s develop. Kate Baggaley wrote that, in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, “proteins fold into the wrong shape and build up to form a plaque in the brain.” Microglia is an immune system cell in the brain that helps “clear out misfolded proteins” (Baggaley 2014) in the brain. When the nerve cells conduct an impulse and fire, proteins such as amyloid-beta, are produced. The microglia then comes in and folds the protein properly. When folded properly, the amyloid-beta will stop the firing of the nerve cells. However, in Alzheimer’s, Kate Baggaley cites Andreasson, a neurologist at …show more content…

However, there is research and plenty of studies being done. There are studies currently being done to help reduce the production of amyloid, and help reduce the inflammation caused by the immune cell. Nonetheless, there are treatments that help with the memory deterioration. There is medication that helps with the impairment of the acetylcholine neurotransmitter system, such as tetrahydro-aminoacridine (Tacrine) and donepezil hydrochloride (Aricept) (Alexander 2014). Behavioral therapy is also an option for Alzheimer’s disease. It helps with the onset of “depression, agitation, and sleep disorder” (Alexander 2014) that comes with Alzheimer’s. Also, having the patient do physical activity, can help reduce those symptoms as well. There are also treatments that do not include medication or therapy, and is more focused on trying to give the patient the best quality of life while dealing with the illness (Larson

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