The Brain Lecture 36(Alzheimers)

is alzheimer a normal part of aging

no

what gender is alzheimers more prevalent in

women

what is the life expectancy after the diagnosis of alzheimers

9 years

what is the first stage of alzherimers

mild cognitive impairment

what does mild cognitive impairment consist of

impairments in memory and thinking but it wont interfere with daily activities

what are the three degrees of severity in alzheimers

mild, moderate, and servere

what do all three degrees of severity of alzheimers have

dementia

what are the characteristics of dementia

noticeable impairments in memory and interferes in every day activities

what are the characteristics of mild severity

most people are able to function independently but they may need support in some areas

what are the characteristics of moderate severity

longest stage, difficulty performing task, and increases irritability

what are the characteristics of severe serverity

full support required

what may be one of the earliest signs of alzheimers before mild cognitive impairment

Anosmia (cant smell)

what happens to structure of the brain when it has alzheimers

loss of grey matter cases reduction in brain volume

what happens to ventricles in a brain with alzheimers

they fill with fluid and enlarge

what are the cellular causes of alzheimers

abnormally low levels of acetylcholine, accumulation of beta amyloid, hyperphosphorylation tau

in the brain what does acetylcholine contribute too

learning and memory, mood, sleep cycle, motivation

what happens to acetylcholine when the brain has alzheimers

there is a 90% reduction and neurons die

what does the loss of acetylcholine produce in the brain

shrinkage of spines and loss of synapses

what are the functions an amyloid

memory, cell growth, cell survival

normally what happens to beta amyloid

gets cleaved

what happens when amyloids cleave abnormally

beta amyloid will form clumps knowns as plaques and triggers neuroinflammation

what is the amyloid hypothesis

accumulation of beta amyloid is a key factor in progression of alzheimers

what are the 4 consequences of the amyloid hypothesis

disruption of normal amyloid function, disrupting neurotransmission, disrupting extra cellular environment, causing indirect damage to neurons

what does tau do

stablize microtubules

what is the tau hypothesis

changes in structure and function of tau are integral in alzheimers

what happens to tau in alzheimers

misfolds

what are the consequences of tau misfolding

destabilization of microtubules, creates intracellular protein tangles, neuronal charges found in dendrites and soma instead of axon

what is the misfolding of tau caused by

hyperphosphorylation

where are beta amyloid

extracellular

where are Tau

intracellular

what are the characteristics of beta amyloid and tau

spread through neuronal pathways and are additive

is there a cure for alzheimers

no

what is the treatment for alzheimers

drugs that target acetylcholine

what is the drug that is used for alzheimers

acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

what do acetylcholinesterase inhibitors do

block breakdown of acetylcholine

what do monoclonal antibody treatments do

target beta amyloid plaques