Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disorder that causes brain cells to degenerate and die. It is the most common cause of dementia.

Gradual memory loss is the key symptom of Alzheimer’s disease. However, it can also lead to inability to make judgements and decisions and change in behaviour and personality.

A combination of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors causes neurons to be damaged and eventually die. The presence of beta-amyloid plaques and a change in conformation of tau proteins into neurofibrillary tangles are identified as potential causes of Alzheimer’s disease.

Beta-amyloid plaques appear to have a toxic effect on neurons and disrupt cell-to-cell communication.

Likewise, the neurofibrillary tangles disrupt the transport system in the brain and are also toxic to the neurons.

Researchers have thus identified these two factors to be the most likely cause of Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is not preventable. However, lifestyle changes such as regular exercise and a healthy diet has been shown to lower the risks of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Sources:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20350447#

https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-alzheimers

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