Alzheimer's Disease

Explore Alzheimer's disease, a progressive degenerative brain disease that damages neurons and reduces brain mass, causing dementia with memory loss and language and planning difficulties; discovered by Alois Alzheimer.

Explore how beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles disrupt neuronal communication by altered APP processing, with risk factors including age, APOE4, family history, Down syndrome, and head injury.

Examine how hippocampal degeneration drives memory loss, learning difficulties, and navigation problems in early Alzheimer's, as beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles accumulate and spread.

Alzheimer's disease progresses through seven stages, from no impairment to severe decline and total dependence; there is no cure, and life expectancy after diagnosis is 8 to 12 years.

Learn how diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease uses PET scans to detect beta amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, with MMSE and clock drawing tests for cognitive screening.

Discover current treatments for Alzheimer's disease, including cholinesterase inhibitors (Aricept, Exelon, Raxadyne), memantine as an NMDA receptor antagonist, and anti-amyloid antibodies like Aducanumab, plus cognitive stimulation and cognitive rehabilitation therapies.

Learn practical caregiving strategies for Alzheimer's patients, including creating routines, maintaining a safe home environment, clear communication, engaging activities, and caregiver self-care to support physical and mental health.

Identify modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer's disease, including high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, physical inactivity, depression, smoking, hearing loss, sleep disorders, and alcohol use. Promote healthy aging through lifestyle changes.