Unit 5 A - Alzheimers

What is alzheimer’s disease

progressive brain disorder that gradually impairs memory, thinking, and behavior, significantly affecting daily life and overall health.

What are the symptoms of alzheimers

Memory loss, Difficulty performing tasks, Misusing words, Problems with judgment &  reasoning, Confusing time & place, Personality & mood changes

When was alzheimers discovered

1906, by german psychiatrist and neurologist

When was alzheimers named

1910

When did awareness grow for alzheimers

mid 1900s

when were advancements in research for alzheimers

1980s-2000s

What kind of disease is alzheimers

degenerative and fatal

What is the average time for alzheimers disease

7-8 years

What causes alzheimers disease

accumulation of amyloid plaques and tau tangles, which disrupt normal brain function, leading to cognitive decline and memory loss over time.

what happens to beta amyloid in a healthy brain

naturally removes beta amyloid

What happens to beta amyloid in alzheimers brain

beta amyloid accumulates and forms
plaques, or clumps that block synapses and communication

What does alzheimers brains do to neurons

death

What is an amyloid

general term for proteins produced normally

Beta Amyloid

protein fragment, should be removed (occurs in a healthy brain)

What is a tau protein

a protein located in the axons of neurons and binds to and stabilize microtubules

What does tau protein do in healthy brain

essential for transport of nutrients

What does tau protein do in alzheimer’s brain

becomes chemically altered, and clumps together to form neurofibrillary tangles.

what happens to the hippocampus in alzheimers

It deteriorates, cells lose connection toothr cells and slowly die

What happens due to effects of the hippocampus during alzheimers

causes short term memory loss and confusion

What happens to the cerebral cortex during alzheimers

it degenerates, Neurons die

What happens die to effects of the cerebral cortex during alzheimers

Language & judgment difficulties, complete loss of mental function, recognition & communication

What are factors of alzheimers

Age, Genetics, Family History, Head Injury, Smoking, Sleep Issues, Hearing Loss

What helps prevent alzheimers

exercise

What happens in 1st stages of of alzheimers

memory loss/lapses, struggle to remember recent conversations or misplace everyday items.

what happens in the 2nd stages of alzheimers

heightened confusion, leading to difficulties in understanding visual images and spatial relationships

What happens in the 3rd stages of alzheimers

trouble with speech and language, resulting in challenges while forming coherent sentences or following conversations with others.

What happens in the 4th stages of alzheimers

loss of bodily functions and requiring full-time assistance and care