Alzheimer’s Disease

is a neurodegenerative disease that causes memory loss, behavioral changes and immobility

Nearly 5% of the adult population aged () will have Alzheimer’s disease

is not a normal part of the aging process.

PET scan –

Yellow color signifies

The following are believed to speed the progression of
Alzheimer’s disease:

– plays a major role in the progression of AZD

Alzheimers disease is also called

– stop breathing while you're sleeping → disrupt
O2 level particularly in brain → loss of neurons

• HTN: AZD + HTN → faster onset of AZD

- low Dopamine inc Ach → depigmentation
of substantia nigra (associated w/ AZD)

Alzheimer’s disease damages the

Familial Alzheimer’s disease is associated with the gene that
makes the protein

The disease causes cholinergic nerve cells in the brain to

() shrinks in size and the ability to think and function diminishes.

Abnormal structures, called (?) , develop in the brain

- resp for memory and learning
− If it shrinks → diminished ability to think and function

- characteristic ridges (narrows in AZD)

- spaces between gyri (widens in AZD)

: are sticky, dense substances composed of protein

Plaques: are sticky, dense substances composed of protein called

- fill the spaces between neurons in the
brain and interfere with the transmission of signals between the neurons.

: are twisted fibers and are made of protein clumps
called tau

Tangles: are twisted fibers and are made of protein clumps
called

Formation of Plaques:
In the cell membrane of neurons, there is the

one side located outside the other is inside the cell membrane

• Regulates growth of neurons
• Repairing neurons after injury

After serving its purpose → breakdown by 2 enzymes

→ insoluble fragments → clumping of fragments outside neurons →
forming β-amyloid plaques (blocked in between neurons
→ disrupting signaling)

– clumping in the soma (inside neurons – specifically in cell body

– normal in the body

stabilize neurons (hold cell membrane together)
• Problem: instead of stabilizing neurons, Tau kills neurons in AZD

– clumping of Tau proteins → blocking of neurons → disrupting signaling