Definition - Alzheimer’s is a brain disorder which slowly damages memory, thinking, and the ability to do everyday tasks.
Causes:
In Alzheimer’s, a sticky protein called amyloid builds up around brain cells.
Another protein called tau forms tangles inside brain cells.
These changes damage and kill brain cells over time.
Scientists don’t know exactly why this starts, but age, family history, and health problems can raise the risk.
Symptoms:
Forgetting recent events or conversations
Trouble finding the right words when speaking
Getting lost in familiar places
Difficulty doing familiar tasks
Confusion about time, place, or people
Changes in mood or personality
Trouble making decisions or solving problems
Repeating questions or stories
Withdrawal from social activities
Advantages and disadvantages:
Alzheimer’s disease is a harmful condition, so it doesn’t really have “advantages” the way some traits or habits might.
The only possible “advantage” is that in the very late stages, a person may be unaware of their decline and distress, but this comes from severe brain damage, not something beneficial.
Disadvantages:
Loss of memory and independence
Difficulty communicating and thinking clearly
Emotional and behavioral changes
Increased need for care and support
Strain on family members and caregivers
Higher risk of infections, injuries, and other health problems
Treatment:
No complete cure exists for Alzheimer’s, but treatments can help manage symptoms.
Medicines like donepezil, rivastigmine, and memantine can improve memory or slow symptom worsening for a while.
Lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, a healthy diet, and brain activities can help keep the mind active.
Support and care from family, friends, or professionals improve quality of life and safety.
Diagnosis:
Medical history – doctor asks about symptoms, health, and family history.
Memory and thinking tests – simple questions and tasks to check brain function.
Physical and neurological exam – checking reflexes, strength, and senses.
Brain scans like MRI or CT to look for brain changes.
Blood tests to rule out other causes of memory loss.
Why does this amyloid buildup happen in the first place?
What is the normal job of the tau protein in a healthy brain, before it starts to form tangles?
How do the amyloid plaques and tau tangles actually cause damage to the brain cells? Is there a process that can be explained in more detail?
Why does the disease start with the forgetting of recent events and conversations, and not older memories?
Are there any specific lifestyle factors beyond just exercise and diet that have been proven to lower the risk of developing Alzheimer's?
The post mentions that medicines can "slow symptom worsening." What exactly does that mean? Do they prevent the amyloid and tau from building up, or do they help the brain function in another way?